Cape Town – The Patriotic Alliance (PA) won a seat previously held by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Stellenbosch Municipality, in by-elections held yesterday, Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) also announced that the DA won a seat previously held by the African National Congress (ANC) in George.
The IEC annunced the new councillors elected in the Western Cape as follows:
The new PA Councillor is:
• Elsabe Vermeulen in Ward 16 in the Stellenbosch Municipality, WC024.
The party won the seat previously held by the DA in the 2021 Municipal Elections with 39.48% of the total votes cast, compared to 47.65% in the 2021 Municipal Elections.
Voter turnout was 46.51%.
The new DA Councillor is:
• Jarques Denvar Esau in Ward 25 in the George Municipality, WC044. The party won the seat previously held by the ANC in the 2021 Municipal Elections with 42.97% of the total votes cast, compared to 29.80% in the 2021 Municipal Elections.
Voter turnout was 58.23%.
Meanwhile, the IEC has confirmed that, in line with statutory provisions, today, Thursday, 30 April 2026, marks the final date on which new ward vacancies may trigger by-elections, effectively closing the window for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MECs to call any further by-elections ahead of the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.
