The ANC and the DA in the Buffalo City Metro retained their wards respectively, following the Wednesday by-elections.
DA’s Jason McDowell defended ward 18 which covers Vincent, Bonnie Doon and  Selborne, successfully from the ANC candidate Andrew Sokolich.
Both candidates are businessmen in the area and had carried out intense campaigning leading to June 6. The ANC conceded defeat in the ward and admitted that the ward continues to be the ANC’s stronghold.
ANC communications manager Gift Ngqondi said  the party was however disappointed by the loss.
“We are disappointed that we could not clinch ward 18 from the opposition. We knew very well that the ward is a DA stronghold but we are delighted with the fortitude and progress, which we will build into it towards the 2019 national elections and 2021 local government elections,” said Ngqondi.
But the ANC has managed to retain its ward 21 in Mdantsane, the ward which covers NU13 and NU12, was won by Mpumelelo Fini.
The metro’s by-elections follow the resignation of DA  ward   18  councillor David Vianne while in  ward 21, the position has been vacant since the death of ANC  ward  councillor Mlandeli Ngabayena last month.
“These results are once again a confirmation that the ANC remains the people's movement. It is the ANC that is most suitable to lead and work together with the people of this country towards a prosperous South Africa wherein poverty, unemployment and inequality will be meaningfully addressed. We thank our communities for the show of confidence in the ANC and its leadership,” said Ngqondi...