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Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty

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Newsletter 129 - Metropolitan municipal politics becoming a two-horse race

Results from the recent local government election suggest that the African National Congress (ANC) may be losing its stronghold over municipal politics. The proportion of ANC council seats in the eight metropolitan municipalities has declined by four percentage points since the 2006 election, while that of the Democratic Alliance (DA) has increased by nine.

In the recent local government election, held on 18 May, the ANC won 794 metropolitan municipality council seats out of a possible 1 415 and the DA 507. These were percentages of 56% and 36% respectively. The proportion of seats won by the ANC has decreased from 60% in the 2006 local government election while that of the DA has increased from 27%.

In the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality (Port Elizabeth), the ANC won 53% (63) of the 120 available seats and the DA 40% (48). In the last election, the ANC won 68% of council seats and the DA 25%.
In Buffalo City (East London), the ANC won 71% (71) of 100 seats and the DA 21% (21). In the last election, the ANC won 85% and the DA 13%.
In the City of Johannesburg, the ANC won 59% (153) of 260 seats, and the DA 35% (90). In the last election, the ANC won 63% and the DA 27%.
In the City of Tshwane, the ANC won 56% (118) of 210 seats, and the DA 39% (82). Last time around, the ANC won 57% and the DA 31%.
In Ekurhuleni (East Rand), the ANC won 62% (125) of 202 seats and the DA won 31% (62). In the last election, the ANC won 64% and the DA 26%.
In Mangaung (Bloemfontein), the ANC won the same proportion of council seats as it did in the last election, which is 67%. The DA increased its number of council seats by ten percentage points, from 17% to 27%.
The eThekwini municipality (Durban) is the only council where the ANC increased its proportion of seats, from 59% in 2006 to 61%. The DA won 17% in 2006 and 21% this year.
In the City of Cape Town, the DA won 61% (135) of 221 seats, and the ANC 33% (73). Last time around, the DA won 43% and the ANC 39%.
The ANC still has a majority of the council seats in seven of the eight metros, but its support has decreased in all but one. Since the 2006 local election, the DA has increased its support in all the metros and has consolidated its domination in Cape Town.
- Lerato Moloi
by nmajoe — last modified 2011-06-28 09:19
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