THE ANC continues to garner more votes in the Eastern Cape municipalities.
This follows their win after the by-elections held on Thursday, 14 September.
The party retained two wards in Mbhashe in the Amathole district, and also increased its margin of victory in both.
ANC won by 70%, this is a 5% increase from the 2021 municipal elections in Ward 1.
It was followed by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which got 11% and decreased by 1% from the previous year.
Another party that came third was the Ind-Tonise which got 11%, followed by African Transformation Movement with 4% and the United Democratic Movement received 4% of the votes, a major loss from the 10% they got in 2021.
In Ward 2, the ANC secured 69% of voter support. This represented a 3% increase compared to its performance in the local government elections of 2021.
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Reacting to their win, ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said this trend of impressive electoral performance by the ANC in all by-elections paints a picture of a party whose voter support continues to grow.
She said it is heartening to note that in this and the last round of by-elections, the ANC is the only party whose electoral support remains on an upward trajectory.
“We are humbled and encouraged by this overwhelming show of confidence by voters which confirms that our messages of renewal and commitment to accelerate service delivery continue to find resonance with the electorate,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri said these by-elections' successes are a dress rehearsal of what will happen in next year’s national and provincial elections, where the ANC is going flat-out for a decisive victory.
