Patriotic Alliance grabs DA seat in Swartland by-election
· The South African
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has secured a significant victory in the latest municipal by-elections, winning a ward previously held by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape.
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The by-election was held on Wednesday, 10 June, in Ward 11 of the Swartland Municipality.
Electoral gain
Raymond Ricardo Mains was elected as the new councillor after the PA captured the ward from the DA, marking another electoral gain for the party in the province.
According to the official results, the PA received 53.26% of the votes cast, a notable increase from the 44.93% support it secured in the ward during the 2021 Local Government Elections.
The result saw the party overtake the DA, which had previously held the seat since the 2021 municipal elections.
Voter turnout in the by-election stood at 58.15%, reflecting strong participation from residents despite the contest taking place outside of a general election cycle.
The victory will be viewed as an important breakthrough for the PA in the Western Cape, a province traditionally dominated by the DA.
Inroads
The result also continues a broader trend of the PA making electoral inroads in municipalities across the country, particularly in communities where the party has focused its campaigning efforts on local service delivery and community issues.
For the DA, the loss of Ward 11 represents a setback in one of its traditional strongholds and is likely to prompt renewed efforts to consolidate support ahead of future elections.
The by-election outcome means Raymond Ricardo Mains will now represent Ward 11 residents on the Swartland Municipal Council under the banner of the Patriotic Alliance.
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