ANC loses ward to EFF five months after winning it

The electoral misfortunes for the Luthuli House-based party continue unabated before the 2024 national polls

The red berets took more than two-thirds of the votes cast in Mahikeng, Ward 5's by-election. File image
The red berets took more than two-thirds of the votes cast in Mahikeng, Ward 5's by-election. File image
Image: Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times/ File photo

The EFF’s growth in the North West continues after the party wrested a ward from the ANC in the May 4 by-elections.

This as the electoral fortunes of the ANC continue on a downward spiral after their bloodied nose in the November 2021 local polls, where the party dipped below 50% for the first time in its history of contesting elections.

The red berets thumped the ANC in Mahikeng ward 5, scooping more than two-thirds of the votes cast with a 42.04% voter turnout.

The defeat for the ANC was huge after the party won the ward by more than 50% just six months ago during the 2021 local government polls.

Of the four by-elections on Wednesday, the ANC retained two wards, in Ntabankulu and Nelson Mandela Bay municipalities and lost the one to the EFF in Mahikeng, while the DA retained a ward in Tshwane.

Where the ANC and DA retained their wards in NMB and Tshwane, voter turnout was poor at just more than 20%.

Overall in all four wards, the ANC received 37% of the votes, followed by the DA at 20% with the EFF coming in third at 19%.

ActionSA garnered 10% of the votes.

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