Voters say enduring poverty and poor public services have left them disenchanted with politics.
DA takes Mitchell's Plain
Article By:
Giovanna Gerbi
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:26
The Independent Electoral Commission has revealed that the Democratic Alliance has secured a landslide victory in a by-election in Ward 79 in Mitchell's Plain in the Western Cape.
The results were collated overnight after polling stations closed at 9pm on Wednesday.
The by-election was called after Independent Democrats councillor, Dennis Williams, resigned to join the DA.
IEC Provincial Electoral Officer Courtney Sampson says both by-elections in Cape Town on Wednesday went smoothly, despite a relatively low voter turn out.
There were, however, reports of tensions between the ID and the DA in the Mitchell's Plain area.
The ID lodged a complaint with the IEC, accusing the DA of harassing one of its supporters ahead of the by-election.
However, despite the tensions, the DA swept the boards, securing 5040 votes.
The ID came a distant second with 505 votes, while the ANC and the Congress of the People
received 439 and 164 votes, respectively.
The DA also retained its seat in a by-election in Ward two in Parow-Belville.