ANC Secures 95% in Eastern Cape’s Raymond Mhlaba By-Election -

African National Congress (ANC)

The African National Congress (ANC) has achieved a resounding victory in the recent by-election held on 22 January 2025, securing 95% of the votes in Ward 4 of the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. This significant win underscores the party’s continued dominance in the region.

By-Election Overview

The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of the previous ward councillor. Ward 4 encompasses the villages of Seymour and Hogsback, with most voters residing in and around Seymour, situated on the R67 regional road connecting KwaMaqoma (formerly Fort Beaufort) to Whittlesea. The ward also includes the villages of Hertzog and Cathcartvale, as well as Hogsback, a village high up in the Amathole mountains, known as the finishing point for the renowned Amatola hiking trail.

Election Results

In this by-election, the ANC faced competition solely from the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC). The results were as follows:

• ANC: 95% (an increase from 77% in the 2021 local government elections)
• PAC: 5% (up from 2% in 2021)

The ANC’s victory was particularly pronounced in Cathcartvale, where it secured 99% of the votes. The PAC managed to achieve double figures only in Tambokiesvlei, obtaining 12% of the votes. Notably, the lowest voter turnout was recorded in Hogsback, with 23% of registered voters participating.

Comparative Analysis

Comparing these results to previous elections:

• 2021 Local Government Elections: The ANC won more than three-quarters of the vote, achieving over 90% in four of the seven voting districts and 77% in Cathcartvale. The Democratic Alliance (DA) won the Hogsback voting district and finished second in the ward with 11%, followed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 7%, and the PAC with 2%.
• 2024 Provincial Elections: The ANC secured 80% of the vote in Ward 4, slightly down from 82% in 2019. The DA came second with 10%, the EFF third with 5%, and the PAC finished eighth with 0.34%.

The ANC’s increased margin in the recent by-election highlights its strengthened support base in the region.

ANC’s Response

“The ANC welcomes the recent by-election results and expresses its full gratitude to the people of Ward 04 in Raymond Mhlaba, Eastern Cape, for their strong demonstration of commitment to the ANC.”

Implications for Local Governance

The Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, established in 2016 through the merger of Nkonkobe and Nxuba municipalities, has been predominantly under ANC control. In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC secured 33 of the 45 seats in the municipality. This overwhelming victory in Ward 4 reinforces the party’s mandate to lead and implement its policies in the region.

Broader Political Context

This by-election result is part of a series of recent electoral activities in the Eastern Cape. Notably, in November 2024, the ANC retained Ward 23 in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality with 59.08% of the votes, a slight decrease from 67.14% in the 2021 municipal elections. Voter turnout for that by-election was 53.45%.

In contrast, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) made significant gains in the Western Cape, winning a seat previously held by the ANC in the Matzikama Municipality. The PA secured 39.74% of the votes, up from 37.76% in the 2021 elections, indicating shifting political dynamics in certain regions.

A voter casts his votes at a voting station in Kliptown during the local municipal elections in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, 03 August 2016. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is expected to lose ground against the opposition parties in a vote which many observers consider the most important since the country’s first free and fair elections in 1994. (Photo: EPA / CORNELL TUKIRI)

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