DA holds steady top spot in Western Cape as results trickle in

CAPE TOWN- As counting in the local government election process was fervently under way by Midday on Tuesday, the DA was steadily holding the top spot in the Western Cape.

Tallies at the IEC’s Western Cape Operations Centre showed the governing party was the front runner in three councils, taking 82 seats.

Nationally, the ruling ANC forged forward with its results leading in eight councils and having taken a total of 432 seats by 12pm.

Nationally, the ruling party has taken 46.12% of voter support.

Icosa was in third place both nationally and provincially in the Western Cape, leading in one council and holding three seats.

While the EFF hadn’t won any councils nationally yet, the party had taken 13 seats, and remained to be seen in the running for the Western Cape.

In a statement the IEC confirmed that the first results for the local government elections were from Imvomvo Lodge voting station from Umzimvubu in the Eastern Cape.

It said a low voter turnout was as the result of a number of factors.

“As you will recall, the Commission had anticipated the prospect of a lower voter turnout already in July and approached the Constitutional Court.

“It is important to realise that voter turnout is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by different factors.

“Some of the elements that motivate voters to go relate to factors outside of the purview of the Commission such as disruptions to services, levels of trust in political institutions.

“Regrettably, unwarranted attacks on the Commission could potentially also influence voter turnout.

“In the analysis of voter turnout, the Covid context in which the election happened should not be forgotten. The national message has been that people must not be in congregate environments,” the IEC said.

Cape Times