PA snatches two George wards from DA in latest by-elections

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) is making further inroads in the George Municipality after snatching two wards from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Wednesday's by-elections.

One of the wards was won by the same councillor who defected from the DA last year.

The DA on Thursday declined to comment on the by-election result, saying only that the outcome would not affect its coalition majority with the FF Plus and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).

PA leader Gayton McKenzie has been warning the DA that he is coming for its wards in the Garden Route town, in the upcoming local government polls.

Wednesday’s victory pushes his party’s representation on the municipal council from three seats to five, with another by-election looming in February.

Despite Monday’s last-ditch attempt by DA leader John Steenhuisen to appeal to voters to bet on the party's new candidates,it fielded in Wednesday's polls, the DA’s majority in the 55-seat council is now down to 25 seats.

Wednesday's result in the communities of Conville, Rosemoor, and Pacaltsdorp is perhaps a litmus test for what is to come in the next municipal election.

The PA won Ward 17 with just shy of 60% of the vote compared to the DA’s victory of 40% in this ward five years ago.

Ward 27 was won with just over 51%, a ward originally won by the Good Party in 2021 and snatched by the DA in a 2023 by-election.

The wards were also challenged by the ANC and the Truth Party.