DA pleased with by-election results in Polokwane and Tshwane

Last night the Democratic Alliance won a significant by-election victory in Polokwane, winning the previously safe ANC seat in ward 20.

In two wards in Tshwane, wards 28 and 80, the DA showed significant gains in support. In ward 80, another previously safe ANC seat, the DA lost by just nine votes.

These results augur well for the two years leading up to the 2014 national election, during which the DA is aiming to significantly increase our support base across the country.

The victory in ward 20, Polokwane, is significant. The DA's share of the vote in this ward grew from 31.19% in 2009, to 41.07% in 2011 and to 62.87% in yesterday's election. At the same time, the ANC's share of the vote fell to 34.2% yesterday, an all time low for the ANC in this ward.

This victory is the latest in an ever-growing list of ANC seats that the DA is winning across South Africa. This is the fourth seat that the DA has won from the ANC since the 2011 election. This shows that we are continuing to grow and win new support, in all communities and in all provinces.

Our narrow loss in ward 80, Tshwane, is just as significant. The DA was unable to unseat the ANC in this ward, falling just nine votes short. Last year, the DA got 27.67% of the vote in this ward. Yesterday, we got 48.76% of the vote, which represents a nearly 80% increase in support. In the same time, the ANC's support base fell from 65.2% in 2011, to 50.0% yesterday.

Finally, we increased our support in ward 28, Tshwane, from 1.17% in 2009, to 6% in 2011, to 11.15% in yesterday's election.

The DA continues to grow our support in all communities, and specifically among South Africans that have not previously voted for the DA.

Statement issued by DA leader Helen Zille, February 16 2012

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