2016 South African municipal elections
The 2016 South African municipal elections were held on 3 August 2016[1] for all districts and local municipalities in all 9 provinces. Municipal elections are held every five years; the previous municipal elections were held in 2011.
The 2016 municipal elections elected the members of the district, metropolitan and local municipal councils, who, in turn, will elect the mayors of the municipalities to office.[2]
Municipal demarcation
South Africa's Municipal Demarcation Board has announced changes to certain ward demarcations and municipal boundaries, following former Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan suggesting the redrawing of boundaries to make municipalities more sustainable and financially viable. There are 34 cases that affect 90 municipalities.[3] The Democratic Alliance (DA) has objected, and MP James Selfe has announced that the DA would take the Board to court over what it says is clear party-motivated and irrational boundary determinations.[4]
Target municipalities
The two major political parties announced their targeted municipalities for the 2016 election. The African National Congress (ANC) claimed that, in addition to maintaining control of certain municipalities, it would also take back control of the City of Cape Town.[5] The Democratic Alliance announced a "big five" plan to target five of the metropolitan municipalities; Tshwane, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay, and Tlokwe for takeover and Cape Town for an increased majority.[6]
Nelson Mandela Bay
Danny Jordaan was appointed Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay in 2015 and also ran for the ANC in the 2016 election.[7] On April 13, 2015, the Democratic Alliance selected former DA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip as its mayoral candidate.[8]
On 5 August 2016, the Independent Electoral Commission announced that the Democratic Alliance had won the metro with 46.71% of the vote followed by the ANC with 40.92%. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) won 5.12% of the vote.[9] A coalition may be required to secure the majority in the metro.
Johannesburg
Incumbent Mayor Parks Tau represented the African National Congress in the election as its mayoral candidate,[10] despite some ANC members having suggested Geoff Makhubo as a potential alternative.[11] The Democratic Alliance selected businessman Herman Mashaba over Wits professor and DA councillor Rabelani Dagada as its mayoral candidate on January 16, 2016.[12] The EFF had yet to announce a mayoral candidate, but deployed Floyd Shivambu to build EFF election machinery in Johannesburg for the upcoming election.[13]
Tshwane
Incumbent Mayor Kgosientso (Sputla) Ramokgopa is a member of the African National Congress. On September 5, 2015, the Democratic Alliance selected MPL Solly Msimanga over 2011 mayoral candidate Brandon Topham and councillor Bronwyn Engelbrecht.[14] On 20 June, 2016, protests broke out in Tshwane over the ANC's selection of Thoko Didiza as mayoral candidate for Tshwane.[15]
Cape Town
Incumbent DA Mayor Patricia de Lille was renominated in January 2016 as her party's mayoral candidate.[16]
Election results
The statistics in this section are all sourced from the Independent Electoral Commission's official website unless specified otherwise.
Regional summary
Eastern Cape
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | EFF | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo City | 60 | 8 | 24 | 8 | 100 | |
| Nelson Mandela Bay | 50 | 6 | 57 | 7 | 120 | |
| Dr Beyers Naudé | 14 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 27 | |
| Blue Crane Route | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 11 | |
| Makana | 17 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 27 | |
| Ndlambe | 13 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 20 | |
| Sundays River Valley | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 16 | |
| Kouga | 12 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 29 | |
| Kou-Kamma | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | |
| Mbhashe | 47 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 63 | |
| Mnquma | 48 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 62 | |
| Great Ke | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | |
| Amahlathi | 24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 30 | |
| Ngqushwa | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | |
| Raymond Mhlaba | 38 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 46 | |
| Inxuba Yethemba | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 18 | |
| Intsika Yethu | 35 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 42 | |
| Emalahleni | 28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 34 | |
| Engcobo | 33 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 39 | |
| Sakhisizwe | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | |
| Enoch Mgijima | 50 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 68 | |
| Elundini | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 34 | |
| Senqu | 23 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 34 | |
| Walter Sisulu | 15 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 22 | |
| Ngquza Hill | 53 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 63 | |
| Port St Johns | 31 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 39 | |
| Nyandeni | 54 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 63 | |
| Mhlontlo | 40 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 51 | |
| King Sabata Dalindyebo | 46 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 72 | |
| Matatiele | 38 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 51 | |
| Umzimvubu | 41 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 53 | |
| Mbizana | 50 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 62 | |
| Ntabankulu | 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 |
Free State
Gauteng
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | EFF | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Johannesburg | 121 | 30 | 104 | 15 | 270 | |
| Ekurhuleni | 109 | 25 | 77 | 13 | 224 | |
| City of Tshwane | 89 | 25 | 93 | 0 | 217 | [17] |
| Emfuleni | 50 | 11 | 22 | 7 | 90 | |
| Lesedi | 16 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 26 | |
| Merafong City | 30 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 55 | |
| Midvaal | 9 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 29 | |
| Mogale City | 38 | 9 | 27 | 3 | 77 | |
| Rand West City | 37 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
KwaZulu-Natal
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | IFP | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Kokstad | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 19 | |
| Umuziwabantu | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 20 | |
| Ray Nkonyeni | 47 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 71 | |
| Umzumbe | 30 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 39 | |
| Umzimkhulu | 38 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 43 | |
| Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma | 23 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 29 | |
| Ubuhlebezwe | 20 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 27 | |
| Umdoni | 23 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 37 | |
| eThekwini | 126 | 10 | 61 | 22 | 219 | |
| Mkhambathini | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | |
| Richmond | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 | |
| Impendle | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | |
| Okhahlamba | 15 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 29 | |
| Inkosi Langalibalele | 23 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 46 | |
| Mooi Mpofana | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| uMngeni | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 23 | |
| Msunduzi | 52 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 78 | |
| Mkhambathini | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
North West
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | EFF | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ditsobotla | 25 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 40 | |
| Kagisano-Molopo | 22 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 29 | |
| Greater Taung | 34 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 48 | |
| Kgetlengrivier | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 15 | |
| Lekwa-Teemane | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 16 | |
| Madibeng | 45 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 81 | |
| Mafikeng | 43 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 69 | |
| Mamusa | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 18 | |
| Maquassi Hills | 14 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 22 | |
| Matlosana | 46 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 77 | |
| Moretele | 38 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 52 | |
| Moses Kotane | 45 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 68 | |
| Naledi | 13 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 20 | |
| Ramotshere Moiloa | 23 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 38 | |
| Ratlou | 20 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 28 | |
| Rustenburg | 43 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 89 | |
| Tswaing | 20 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 29 | |
| Ventersdorp/Tlokwe | 34 | 5 | 22 | 6 | 67 |
Northern Cape
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | EFF | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richtersveld | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |
| Nama Khoi | 8 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 17 | |
| Kamiesberg | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| Hantam | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | |
| Karoo Hoogland | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| Khâi-Ma | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| Ubuntu | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| Umsobomvu | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | |
| Emthanjeni | 9 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 15 | |
| Kareeberg | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| Renosterberg | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | |
| Thembelihle | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |
| Siyathemba | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | |
| Siyancuma | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |
| Kai !Garib | 11 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 19 | |
| !Kheis | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| Tsantsabane | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | |
| Kgatelopele | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |
| Dawid Kruiper | 18 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 31 | |
| Sol Plaatje | 38 | 5 | 19 | 3 | 65 | |
| Dikgatlong | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | |
| Magareng | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | |
| Phokwane | 12 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 19 | |
| Joe Morolong | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 29 | |
| Ga-Segonyana | 18 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 27 | |
| Gamagara | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 13 |
Western Cape
In the following table, blue rows indicate municipalities won by the DA, green rows indicate those won by the ANC, and grey rows indicate those with no majority party.
| Municipality | ANC | EFF | DA | Others | Total | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Cape Town | 57 | 7 | 154 | 13 | 231 | DA HOLD |
| Beaufort West | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 13 | |
| Bergrivier | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 13 | DA HOLD |
| Breede Valley | 12 | 1 | 22 | 6 | 41 | |
| Bitou | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 13 | |
| Cape Agulhas | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | |
| Cederberg | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 11 | DA GAIN from ANC |
| Drakenstein | 15 | 2 | 43 | 5 | 65 | |
| George | 16 | 1 | 29 | 7 | 53 | |
| Hessequa | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 17 | |
| Kannaland | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | |
| Knysna | 7 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 21 | |
| Laingsburg | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| Langeberg | 6 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 23 | |
| Matzikama | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 15 |
DA GAIN from DA-Led Coalition 2011-2012; ANC-Led Coalition 2012-2016 |
| Mossel Bay | 7 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 27 | |
| Oudtshoorn | 7 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 25 | |
| Overstrand | 8 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 25 | |
| Prince Albert | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | |
| Saldanha Bay | 8 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 27 | DA HOLD |
| Stellenbosch | 8 | 2 | 30 | 3 | 43 | |
| Swartland | 6 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 23 | |
| Swellendam | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | |
| Theewaterskloof | 10 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 27 | |
| Witzenberg | 8 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 23 |
Significance
- In December 2017, the African National Congress (ANC), which is the majority party in most of the municipalities, will hold its 57th National Conference, in which the party will elect new incumbents for its National Executive Committee. It will be the second National Conference since Thabo Mbeki was recalled as president of South Africa in 2009.[18] It has been suggested, however, that the ANC has lost support, especially in metropolitan areas, since the last round of elections.[19]
- It will be the first held since Helen Zille, the leader of the Official Opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), stepped down from being leader of the party since 2007, replaced by Mmusi Maimane.
Political parties
The National Freedom Party failed to pay its registration fee to the Independent Electoral Commission and has been barred from participating in the elections.[20] The party, a breakaway from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), gained much of its support in areas where the IFP had been strong, and governs a number of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal in coalition with the African National Congress.
References
- ^ "Local government election date announced". News24. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ "Electoral Commission: Introduction to 2016 Municipal Elections". www.elections.org.za. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- ^ "SA municipal boundaries changed ahead of 2016 elections". Businesstech.co.za. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Kingdom Mabuza (2015-08-28). "Boundary battle rages". Times LIVE. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ "More of the same for ANC in the Western Cape with Fransman at the helm? | Politics". RDM. 2015-07-10. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
- ^ Qaanitah Hunter. "DA has the 'big five' metros in its sights | News | National | M&G". Mg.co.za. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Letsoalo, Matuma; Gqirana, Thulani; Kings, Sipho; Hunter, Qaanitah (8 May 2015). "Desperate ANC wants Danny Jordaan as PE mayor". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Trollip is DA mayoral candidate for Mandela Bay". IOL. 2016-08-05. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ^ "It's official: DA wins Nelson Mandela Bay metro". News 24. 2015-04-13. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Analysis: DA's Herman Mashaba is a strong alternative to ANC's Parks Tau". Daily Maverick. 2016-01-17. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Letsoalo, Matuma (20 Jan 2016). "Who will lead the ANC's election charge?". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Quintal, Genevieve. "Herman Mashaba announced as DA's Joburg mayoral candidate". Times Live. The Times/Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Malema not endorsed as Polokwane mayor - EFF". News24. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Patel, Faizel (5 September 2015). "DA CHOOSES TSHWANE'S SOLLY MSIMANGA AS 2016 MAYORAL CANDIDATE". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Mataboge, Mmanaledi. "ANC's 2016 headache – retaining the Big 5". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "De Lille named DA's mayoral candidate for Cape Town". Ewn.co.za. 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- ^ Bianca Ackroyd (2016-01-15). "DA wins Tshwane, but needs a coalition to govern". Enca.com. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
- ^ "ANC dumps Mbeki, moves to 'heal rift'". Retrieved 2016-08-05.
- ^ "2016 municipal elections". Retrieved 2015-06-25.
- ^ "NFP to approach ConCourt to fight disqualification from elections". News24. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
