Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has won the Ward 2 by-election in Bitou, Western Cape, which was held on Wednesday.
"The DA has emerged victorious in the by-election which was held in Ward 2 in Bitou yesterday. We increased our share of the vote to 86.4% from 84.38% in 2016," said Bonginkosi Madikizela, the DA Western Cape acting leader in a statement he issued on Thursday.
Bitou became a hung council following the announcement by its mayor that the coalition agreement between the Active United Front (AUF) and the African National Congress (ANC) had been terminated.
On Tuesday Bitou mayor Peter Lobese, who is a member of the AUF, said the decision to terminate the coalition was partly taking a stand with the rest of the country in protest against President Jacob Zuma, who has been widely criticised for sacking Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
"The DA celebrates this victory along with the decision by the AUF to terminate its coalition with the ANC.
AUF Mayor, Peter Lobese, has indicated that the coalition partnership has soured since its formation. There are numerous scandals plaguing the ANC and its associates in Bitou."
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Madikizela said the AUF has also called on other parties that may be in coalition with the ANC elsewhere in South Africa to terminate such agreements. "Doing so would be an act of solidarity with the people of our country, who are protesting against Jacob Zuma's presidency. "Jacob Zuma has again put the Guptas before the people with his latest Cabinet reshuffle, which saw Pravin Gordhan being fired."
Madikizela said the DA sees the change in Bitou as an affirmation of our record of progress. "We are committed to getting things back on track in Bitou."