The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has released the results of the by-elections held on 18 March 2026, revealing a mixed bag of outcomes for the country’s major political parties. The African National Congress (ANC) managed to hold onto two key wards in the Eastern Cape, but suffered a surprise loss in the Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) continued its resurgence in KwaZulu-Natal, retaining and gaining multiple wards.
In the Eastern Cape, the ANC retained Ward 32 in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, where Thembinkosi Sobende was re-elected with a commanding 80.03% of the vote, an increase from the party’s 67.86% share in the 2021 municipal elections. Voter turnout in the ward was recorded at 42.99%. Similarly, in Ward 14 of the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, Nceba Mtyana held the seat for the ANC with 63.05% of the vote, albeit with a slight decrease from 65.40% in 2021. Turnout stood at 39.15%.
The ANC’s fortunes took a hit in Ward 7 of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, where the party lost the seat to the Patriotic Alliance (PA). Nathan Angus Vavian Jacobs won the seat with 40.19% of the vote, improving on the party’s 31.86% performance in 2021. The ward had previously been held by the ANC with 46.33%. Voter turnout was 38.42%.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the IFP emerged as the big winner, retaining and gaining multiple wards. In Ward 20 of the Nongoma Local Municipality, Mandlezulu Perfect Khanyi retained the seat for the IFP with 46.96% of the vote, up from 37.93% in 2021. Voter turnout was 46.66%. The party also captured Ward 7 in Nongoma, where Zamokuhle Ivy Mtshali won 54.65% of the vote, a seat previously held by the National Freedom Party (NFP), which secured 52.82% in 2021. Turnout reached 49.36%.
Furthermore, in Ward 12 of the AbaQulusi Local Municipality, Thulani Patrick Buthelezi delivered another victory for the IFP, winning 62.95% of the vote. The ward had been under ANC control following the 2021 elections, where the party obtained 58.21%. Voter turnout was 50.46%.
The by-election results reflect shifting local political dynamics, with the ANC maintaining its dominance in parts of the Eastern Cape, despite losing in Dr Beyers Naudé, while the IFP continues to strengthen its foothold in KwaZulu-Natal through both retention and expansion of seats. The IEC reiterated its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections across South Africa.
