The Democratic Alliance (DA) won three by-elections in the Western Cape, including one, previously held by the African National Congress (ANC) in Hessequa.
There was a 23% increase in votes in the Hessequa by-election, with the DA retaining wards in Stellenbosch and George.
In the 2016 DA party managed to get 34% of the vote in local government elections.
DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela said:“We have taken away ward 4 from the ANC in Hessequa, the DA is now the majority party in that municipality.”
ANC spokesperson Dennis Cruywagen said they had learned valuable lessons in the by-elections.
“We learned quite a few valuable lessons and one of them is that we must get our voters out to polls stations.”
In Stellenbosch, the DA retained Ward 9 with a 98% majority vote and in George, retained Ward 18 with 74% of the vote.
More: ewn