The African National Congress (ANC) has secured definitive victories in recent by-elections, reinforcing its appeal among voters and marking a moment of renewal for the party. Official confirmation from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) adds credibility and transparency to the outcomes, highlighting the ANC’s ongoing grassroots strength.
Earlier this year, the ANC held onto key wards in two by-elections: Ward 4 in the Emalahleni sub-region (Chris Hani Region, Eastern Cape) and Ward 34 in the Fetakgomo Tubatse sub-region (Sekhukhune Region, Limpopo), where Councillors Thembinkosi Klaas and Mahlatse Mathipa were elected, respectively. These victories reaffirmed the ANC as “the dependable choice of the people,” enduringly rooted in their aspirations for a better life, according to national spokesperson Mahlengi Bheng-Motsiri.
The IEC, tasked with overseeing elections to ensure they are free, fair, and swiftly resolved—typically within a seven-day timeframe—has officially declared these results, enhancing the legitimacy of the party’s message of renewal and trust.
Apart from the Chris Hani and Sekhukhune wins, other by-elections across South Africa in 2025 have been monitored by the IEC, with some held in Gauteng, Free State, Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and other Eastern Cape wards. While those results span a mix of outcomes, the ANC’s hold in the highlighted wards was particularly significant.
In her statement, Bhengu-Motsiri paid tribute to the communities, voters, ANC volunteers, and activists whose unwavering support propelled these victories: “Your loyalty, commitment, and participation are testimony to the fact that the ANC is not just trusted but passionately loved by the people as their movement for liberation and transformation.”
These successes arrive just ahead of a pivotal Special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting focused on Local Government, alongside a Roll Call of Councillors assembly. Bhengu-Motsiri emphasised that these gatherings will help redefine the ANC’s service-delivery agenda, sharpen interventions, and accelerate development in alignment with the party’s renewal mandate.
The ANC used the by-election outcomes to counter critics and opinion polls suggesting diminishing support. “These results starkly contradict the narratives of decline pushed by naysayers and hostile forces,” the party asserted, positioning the election wins as clear evidence of the ANC’s stability, unity, and effectiveness.
As the party looks toward the general elections, these by-elections signal the ongoing importance of local governance and community trust. “With every ward retained and every mandate renewed, the ANC recommits to intensifying service delivery, strengthening local government, and ensuring that the people’s needs are always placed first,” the statement concluded.
