DA retains electoral mining rights in Odendaalsrus, adds to huge Free State haul with easy Mangaung wins

12 Sep 2024

The DA held the marginal seat of Odendaalsrus in Matjhabeng and won the four Mangaung wards it was defending by large margins in the Free State. By-elections were also held in wards in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West this week. Watch out for our accompanying reports.

Ward 35 (Odendaalsrus) Matjhabeng, Lejweleputswa: DA 46% (46%) ANC 36% (44%) MK 11% EFF 5% (7%) ATM 1% (1%) Isanco 1% (<1%)

The setting: The mining town of Odendaalsrus is north of Welkom. It is at a crossroads and provides the link for Welkom with towns such as Bothaville, Kroonstad and Wesselsbron. Odendaalsrus is the hometown of former Free State premier Mxolisi Dukwana and country singer Ray Dylan. Jannie de Beer, the metronomic flyhalf, went to school in the town.

The 2021 local government elections: The DA scraped by with a 63-vote margin between it and the ANC. They did this by getting a differential turnout in the areas of Ross Kent East and Ross Kent North. The 513-vote margin between it and the ANC at Odensia Primêre Skool would be critical. Turnout was higher in the DA strongholds compared with the ANC strongholds. Fifty-nine percent of registered voters turned up at Odensia.

The ANC had a 355-vote margin at the Western Holdings Mine Primary School in Rheeder Park, on the outskirts of Welkom. However, turnout was not as high as it was in Ross Kent. The ANC won more than 80% of the vote at the Tshepong Mine Hostel and Jabulani Village, but turnout was pitiful, resembling that of a metro during a by-election. The Reahola housing development on the western outskirts of Welkom was also good for the ANC as it won by 142 votes, but the 46% turnout should have been higher for the party.

The differential turnout in the DA strongholds won it for the party.

The 2024 provincial elections: The DA (43%) beat the ANC (36%). While the latter narrowed the gap in the DA strongholds, the DA made good inroads, with an impressive 21% in Rheeder Park and 32% in the Reahola housing development. The EFF made good inroads into the ANC’s base, climbing to 11%. The FF+ and uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) managed only 2% and 1% respectively.

The by-election: Igor Scheurkogel, the ward councillor, won election to the National Council of Provinces. The DA and ANC were joined on the ballot by the EFF, MK, African Transformation Movement (ATM) and the Independent South African National Civic Organisation (Isanco).

The DA beat the ANC by just more than 250 votes. The results were similar to May, with the DA making a slight improvement. The party took the ward by winning by large margins in two parts of Ross Kent in Odendaalsrus. The DA did not achieve the differential turnout it needed in previous elections. Turnout in Ross Kent was lower than in Rheeder Park at the Western Holdings Mine Primary School voting district.

The ANC beat the DA by just more than 300 votes in Rheeder Park. MK hurt the ANC in Rheeder Park, taking 25% of the vote. While the ANC got its supporters out in Rheeder Park, it struggled again to get its base out at Tshepong Mine Hostel, where only 9% of those registered made it to the polling station. At Jabulani Village, only 21% of voters turned up, and of those who did, 26% supported the MK.

MK will be satisfied with its third-place finish ahead of the EFF. The EFF lost more than half of its percentage support in the ward compared with May.

Poll: 41% (48%)

Mangaung

Ward 18 (Fauna Bainsvlei), Mangaung: DA 85% (66%) ANC 15% (17%)

The setting: This large, sprawling ward extends from the west of Bloemfontein, including Fauna and Lourier Park, to Bainsvlei, which is northwest of the city and a large area between Bloemfontein and Petrusberg off the N8 national road.

The 2021 local government election: The DA won here comfortably, taking all but one of the voting districts. The ANC and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) both got into double figures, with the ANC finishing second. The party won one voting district, bagging the Bloemfontein School of Autism district in Lourier Park.

The 2024 provincial election: The DA swept all the voting districts on its way to winning 61% of the vote. The ANC came second with 19%. The EFF was third with 7% and the FF+ fourth with 6%.

The by-election: Ward councillor Dave Mackay was elected to the Free State legislature. The DA and the ANC were the only parties on the ballot.

The DA obtained 90% or more of the vote in four of the six voting districts in this ward. It won 98% at Phutanang Primary School in the Driehoek area of Bloemfontein, an area which has many smallholdings. The ANC did best at the Bloemfontein School of Autism in Lourier Park where it won a quarter of the vote.

Poll: 27% (50%)

Ward 20 (Dan Pienaar Brandwag), Mangaung: DA 98% (75%) ANC 2% (7%)

The setting: Ward 20 is just northwest of the Bloemfontein city centre. The suburb of Dan Pienaar, named after a World War 2 hero, covers much of the ward. It includes Brandwag which is next to the city centre. Brandwag has seen a rise in student housing demand. It extends to Heuwelsig, arguably the leafiest of Bloemfontein suburbs, Pentagon Park and Westdene. Hoërskool Sentraal is a well-known landmark in this ward.

The 2021 local government elections: The DA was far ahead of the chasing pack here. The FF+ was the only other party to get into double percentage figures, with 12% support.

The 2024 provincial elections: The DA received 68% of the vote, with the ANC second with 9% and the EFF edging the FF+ for third place, with both parties ending on 8%.

The by-election: Ward councillor Werner Pretorius was elected to the provincial legislature. Only the ANC and the DA were on the ballot.

The DA won more than 99% in five of the six voting districts and won every valid vote in one-third of the districts in this by-election. It won 100% in the Dan Pienaar and Westdene voting districts.

The ANC recorded double percentage figures in Brandwag, but the turnout was only 9%. This affected the overall turnout.

Poll: 25% (57%)

Ward 22 (Langenhoven Park), Mangaung: DA 97% (74%) ANC 3% (4%)

The setting: Langenhoven Park is a large suburb west of the Bloemfontein city centre, from which it is separated by the N1 national road.

The 2021 local government elections: The DA came close to winning three-quarters of the vote. The FF+ came second with 19%.

The 2024 provincial elections: The DA won 76% of the vote, with the FF+ second with 12% and the ANC third with 5%.

The by-election: Ward councillor Dulandi Leech took up a seat in the provincial legislature after the elections. The FF+ sat about this by-election as the ANC took on the DA.

The DA won between 96% and 98% in all five voting districts. The results for each district were very consistent. The DA did best at the tent on Anna M Louw Street in Langenhoven Park (98%).

Poll: 27% (60%)

Ward 25 (Fichardt Park Pellissier), Mangaung: DA 98% (80%) ANC 2% (6%)

The setting: Ward 25 is southwest of the city centre. Fichardt Park straddles the N1 national road.

The 2021 local government elections: The DA beat the FF+ by eight votes to one. The FF+ was the only other party to get into double figures (10%).

The 2024 provincial elections: The DA came first with 74%, followed by the FF+ on 9% and the ANC on 8%.

The by-election: The ward councillor resigned for health reasons. Soon after becoming a proportional representation (PR) councillor, he died.

The DA won 266 of the 267 votes cast at Bobbies Park in Fichardt Park. Results like this helped the DA put an exclamation mark on a big win in Ward 25. It also won 165 of the 166 votes at Rosenhof High School in Fichardt Park. The other ballot was spoilt.

Poll: 29% (66%)

The DA had a very good night in the Free State. This province delivered for the party in May and did so again in this round of by-elections. There are no immediate by-elections coming up in the Free State. DM

Read more: MK shocks ANC, EFF in Marikana while DA has a night of mixed fortunes in ward polls

Read more by-election reports:

Al-Jamah wins big in Lenasia while ANC and DA also retain seats in Gauteng and Limpopo

MK party wins KZN ward but falls short in other contests, dominant DA paints polls blue

DA sails forth in North West ward polls, despite prod by EFF in Potch

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