DA and two other parties gang up against Patriotic Alliance in Cederberg by-election 

By Sello Theletsane

The DA, Freedom Front Plus, and Cederberg Eerste (CE) ganged up against the Patriotic Alliance in a tightly contested by-election in Lamberts Bay/Leipoltville (Ward 5) in the Western Cape on Wednesday.

The CE-DA-FF coalition garnered 1451 votes (45.74%), PA 1056 (33.29%), and ANC 663 (20.90%) while the EFF only secured 2 votes (0.06%). Shortly after the announcement of the results, the DA claimed victory, saying: “voters continue to unite behind the DA as we build towards a new government in 2024.”

However, this did not go down well with the DA’s coalition partner, the Freedom Front Plus who accused the DA of arrogance.

In a tweet, FF Plus Chief Whip Corne Mulder said: “DA arrogance in full cry. Cederberg Ward 5 could not be won by DA without Cederberg First and FF Plus support. It was jointly agreed not to split the vote. Without that PA would have won and ANC/PA coalition would rule. Why this arrogance? Did DA learn nothing from loss of Jhb?”

DA arrogance in full cry. Cederberg Ward 5 could not be won by DA without Cederberg First and FF Plus support. It was jointly agreed not to split vote. Without that PA would have won and ANC/PA coalition would rule. Why this arrogance. Did DA learn nothing from loss of Jhb?

— Corné_Mulder (@MulderCorn) October 13, 2022

PA leader Gayton McKenzie thanked all voters in Cederberg Municipality who voted for the PA, “the fastest growing political party in South Africa”. “The fact that the DA had to gang up against us with two other political parties to win this by-election shows that the PA is a force to be reckoned with. Had Cederberg Eerste and FF Plus not supported the DA, we would have easily won this by-election,” McKenzie said.

In a joint statement the CE-DA-FF Plus coalition said when the Ward Councillor position became vacant in July 2022, the coalition decided to field only one candidate to represent the coalition” on condition that it is the best candidate for the task”.

“CE and FF Plus, therefore, decided to place all its support behind the selected candidate later identified as Dr John Hayes, a member of the DA, the local medical doctor of the town for over 35 years already.”

“We are pleased to confirm that Dr Hayes victory at the polls yesterday means that the coalition will regain control and govern the Cederberg Municipality.”

In a tweet, election analyst Wayne Sussman said: “The PA will use this result to show voters that they are the best-placed alternative to challenge the DA in the Western Cape in 2024.”

The PA will use this result to show voters that they are the best placed alternative to challenge the DA in the Western Cape in 2024.

— Wayne Sussman (@waynesussman) October 13, 2022