KNYSNA NEWS - Despite suffering a 1.96% drop in support since the 2016 municipal elections, the DA has managed to hold on to Ward 11 by overcoming strong support for the ANC who came in second during last week's by-election in that ward.
The by-election on Wednesday 4 December was contested by six candidates, five of whom represented political parties and one – Alan Kock – was an independent candidate. The DA was represented by Lorraine Opperman, the ANC by Russel Arends, the EFF by Neil Louw, Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) by Johannes Wagenaar, and lastly Indepedent Civic Organisation of SA (Icosa) by Neville Korkee.
A total of 1 315 votes were cast in a 46.71% voter turnout, with only four spoilt ballots.
The DA narrowly took the polls at the Sunridge Primary School voting station, with 209 votes to the ANC's 204. Voters at the second station in Ward 11 – Hornlee AFM Koinonia Church – were a lot more DA-inclined, with the party receiving 338 of the votes here to the ANC's 174.
With a tally of 547 votes, this meant Opperman was named the new councillor for Ward 11.
The final tally was as follows:
- DA – 547 votes
- ANC – 378 votes
- EFF – 178 votes
- PBI – 93 votes
- ICOSA – 73 votes
- Alan Kock – 46 votes
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