The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has emerged victorious in a fiercely contested by-election, defeating the Western Cape’s ruling party, the DA.
The results of the by‑elections held on April 29 were confirmed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which announced that Elsabe Vermeulen won Ward 16 in the Stellenbosch municipality.
The results further showed that the ANC’s position in the province weakened after the party lost a by-election in George to the DA.
“In the by‑elections held on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 in the Western Cape, the Patriotic Alliance won a seat previously held by the Democratic Alliance in the Stellenbosch municipality, while the DA won a seat previously held by the ANC in George,” the commission said.
DA held the seat since 2021 local elections
The IEC said Vermeulen won the Stellenbosch seat, which had been held by the DA since the 2021 municipal elections, with 39.48% of the total votes cast.
This compares with the DA’s 47.65% share of the vote in 2021. Voter turnout in Ward 16 was recorded at 46.51%.
In George, DA councillor Jarques Denvar Esau emerged victorious in Ward 25 after the party won the seat previously held by the ANC in the 2021 municipal elections.
The DA secured 42.97% of the total votes cast, up from 29.80% in 2021. Voter turnout in the ward stood at 58.23%.
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- The Patriotic Alliance (PA) won a by-election in Ward 16 of Stellenbosch Municipality, defeating the Western Cape's ruling Democratic Alliance (DA).
- Elsabe Vermeulen (PA) secured 39.48% of the vote, capturing the seat from the DA, which had 47.65% in 2021.
- The African National Congress (ANC) lost a seat in George to the DA in Ward 25, weakening the ANC’s position in the Western Cape.
- DA councillor Jarques Denvar Esau won the George seat with 42.97%, up from 29.80% in 2021, with voter turnout at 58.23%.
- Voter turnout was 46.51% in Stellenbosch and 58.23% in George during the April 29 by-elections confirmed by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
“In the by‑elections held on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 in the Western Cape, the Patriotic Alliance won a seat previously held by the Democratic Alliance in the Stellenbosch municipality, while the DA won a seat previously held by the ANC in George,” the commission said.
In George, DA councillor Jarques Denvar Esau emerged victorious in Ward 25 after the party won the seat previously held by the ANC in the 2021 municipal elections.
