Patriotic Alliance delivers another blow to ANC and DA ahead of 2026 elections

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to independent elections analyst Wayne Sussman.

Listen below:

Local government elections are set to be held in 2026, and the political landscape is looking anything but predictable, particularly when it comes to the growth of the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

They have shown their strength against the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the African National Congress (ANC) in yet another by-election.

It follows on from their similar success in parts of the Western Cape last year, in what Sussman then described as a 'shellacking' of the DA.

ALSO READ: PA shellacs DA, ANC in Western Cape by-elections

"When one looks at the Western Cape, one expects the PA to do well in places like Saldhana Bay, Outdshoorn, etc, but the blue wall for the DA was shattered a few weeks ago in Mossel Bay."

- Wayne Sussman, independent elections analyst

"The Patriot Alliance shocked the DA in a ward there. Mossel Bay is a municipality where the DA did best in the 2024 elections."

- Wayne Sussman, independent elections analyst

Sussman says for the PA to win the Amstelhof Paarl Ward from the DA is a huge shock.

The Cape Winelands have long been a DA stronghold.

"And the DA would have great concern about this, because this is now becoming a regular occurrence."

- Wayne Sussman, independent elections analyst

And it's not just the DA who should be on the backfoot, says Sussman.

The PA is also hurting other parties, like GOOD and the smaller Concerned Drakenstein Residents (CDR).

"That Green Mamba of the Patriotic Alliance is affecting all across the Western Cape."

- Wayne Sussman, independent elections analyst

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