[BY-ELECTION] EFF makes history with first-ever ward win in the Western Cape
Election Analyst Wayne Sussman dissects the surprising by-election results.
![[BY-ELECTION] EFF makes history with first-ever ward win in the Western Cape](https://media-cache.primedia-service.com/media/d1kl2ih3/eff.jpg?width=1026&height=576&v=1daf42148d70480&format=webp "[BY-ELECTION] EFF makes history with first-ever ward win in the Western Cape")
On Thursday, South Africa held three by-elections in Saldanha Bay (Western Cape), KwaZulu-Natal (Mkhambathini in Umgungundlovu) and the North West (Gopane).
Two of the three elections were the result of the assassinations of previous ward councillors.
"What they also had in common wasn't just the assassination, but they had survived previous assassination attempts."
Wayne Sussman, Election Analyst
"These two public representatives, in different parts of the country, still paid the ultimate price."
Wayne Sussman, Election Analyst
An EFF banner in Tshwane. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/Eyewitness News
Results:
Saldanha Bay
The EFF triumphed over the ANC with 57% while the ANC took home 43% of votes. It is the EFF's first-ever ward win in the Western Cape.
KwaZulu-Natal
The ANC (78%) won big, beating the EFF (15%) by 1164 votes.
North West:
Similarly to the 2021 results, the ANC took home 63% of votes compared to 62% in the previous elections.
The EFF, sitting at 20%, has now taken ANC seats in six provinces, according to Sussman.
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