The African National Congress (ANC) emerged as the leading party in the Thabazimbi local municipality by-elections, securing 10 out of 12 wards and claiming 10 seats on the council.
These by-elections were triggered by the dissolution of the municipality, which faced significant issues such as corruption and a lack of service delivery. Despite the ANC’s victory, the council remains without a clear majority, meaning a coalition will be required for the council to function effectively.
The dissolution followed severe financial problems and ongoing challenges in service delivery. On election day, almost 51,000 registered voters cast their ballots across 57 polling stations, with 405 candidates from 21 political parties and five independent candidates competing for 24 council seats.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced that 19,812 voters participated in the by-election. The ANC garnered the highest percentage of votes at 39.65%, translating into 10 seats. The Democratic Alliance (DA) followed with 16.41% of the vote and four seats, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) secured three seats with 13.32%.
Other parties making an impact included the South African Labour Party, which won two seats with 8.59% of the vote, and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), which also claimed two seats with 7.09%. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Thabazimbi Residents Association (TRA) each won one seat.
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While the ANC triumphed in this by-election, its performance represented a decline compared to the 2021 elections, when it secured 47% of the vote, though it still fell short of an outright majority. The DA and TRA, which had previously won seats in 2021, maintained their presence, while the EFF outpaced FF Plus for the fourth spot.