The African National Congress (ANC) has retained Merafong Municipality’s Ward 10 in Gauteng despite worsening service delivery conditions that have left many residents frustrated with the performance of the local municipality.
Tshepiso Chester Sekgothudi is the new councillor after the ANC secured 48.89% of the vote in Wednesday’s by-elections. This marks a significant drop from the 75.52% the party received in the 2021 Municipal Elections. Voter turnout stood at 43.29%.
Ward 10 has long been associated with failing basic services — including frequent water supply disruptions, sewage leaks, potholes, and inconsistent refuse collection. Merafong itself has faced financial instability and governance challenges, with residents regularly protesting the municipality’s declines.
Despite these problems, the ANC managed to hold onto the seat, with some voters expressing hope that renewed leadership could bring change. Others argued that the outcome reflected loyalty to the party rather than any improvement on the ground.
Mixed results for political parties nationwide
The Merafong victory formed part of a broader set of by-elections held across the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape — where parties saw both gains and setbacks.
In Gauteng, the DA retained Ward 90 in Johannesburg with 97.18% of the vote, although turnout was just 18.15%.
In the Eastern Cape, the ANC and DA held their respective seats — Ward 10 in Makana and Ward 02 in Kouga. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) made a key breakthrough in Kou-Kamma’s Ward 02, taking the seat from the ANC.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party continued its rise, winning Ward 17 in Mandeni from the ANC with 61.01% of the vote.
In the Northern Cape, the ANC gained a seat from the DA in Hantam’s Ward 07. However, it also suffered a defeat in Siyancuma, where an independent candidate, Danfrid Herald Morolong, won Ward 05 — taking it from the ANC.
A symbolic win for the ANC amid shifting voter patterns
Although the ANC celebrated holding Ward 10 in Merafong, the reduced margin of victory mirrors a national trend seen in Wednesday’s results: a shifting political landscape marked by declining voter confidence, stronger performance by smaller parties, and the growing presence of independents.
