The Democratic Alliance (DA) has gained an important victory in the Mother City’s lower-middle class coloured suburb of Grassy Park. The by-election is one of eight held on Wednesday.
According to the South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission the DA gained 59,06% to the ANC’s 27,5%. In 2000 the DA gained 59,2% and the ANC 27%.
The by-election is seen as important by both the ruling ANC and the DA as a test of coloured support — in a province in which it makes up more than half the vote.
Basil Edward Lee of the DA won 1 780 votes to Lorraine Jacobs’s 27,51% or 829 votes. The African Christian Democratic Party’s Patricia Sandra Arendse gained 11,75% or 354 votes while Sheila Summers of the Universal Party gained just 51 votes or 1,69%. The percentage poll was 24,2%.
The result is pretty much in line with the 2000 result but it indicates that the DA has held its ground despite the withdrawal of the New National Party, which backed the ANC’s campaign.
The seat had been held by an NNP nominated DA councillor, who resigned. DA Member of Parliament James Selfe said Grassy Park was a hard-fought poll in which his party did ”a thorough canvass”.
”We are pleased with the levels of support shown for the DA and these results point towards the DA retaking the province of the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town in 2004 and 2005 respectively.”
The DA lost both as a result of the NNP withdrawal from the alliance in late 2001.
ANC provincial secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha said his party had ”slightly increased” its percentage of the vote while the DA percentage had fallen. This had occurred in a situation where the NNP did not stand, he noted.
”During the election campaign we have found voters who have traditionally been very hostile, to be more open to the ANC. They have been prepared to listen to our canvassers and candidate. We have learnt many lessons from this campaign and we are sure these will help us in our preparations for the election next year.”
National and provincial elections are scheduled for mid-year in 2004 while municipal elections are scheduled for 2005. – I-Net-Bridge