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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has recorded two noteworthy victories in by-elections in the City of Cape Town (ward 19, Delft-Kuilsriver) and Govan Mbeki (ward 5, Secunda, Mpumalanga) municipalities. While both wards were previously DA seats, voters have tonight returned the DA to office with significantly increased majorities. 
 
Ahead of next year’s local government elections, the message is clear: where the DA is in office, it increasingly wins public confidence. The DA continues to grow, establishing itself as a party of government for all the people, and the only viable alternative to the ANC.
 
In Cape Town, ward 19, the DA polled 74.65%, up from 36.82% in 2006. The ANC received 14.63% of the vote, down from 32.99% in 2006.
 
The result in ward 19 is a vote of faith in the DA and ID’s decision to merge forces. In 2006, the ID polled 21.17% in ward 19, with the DA and ID jointly polling 57.9%. The DA’s comprehensive victory today, polling some 17% higher than even the combined 2006 total, is a sign of faith in the DA-ID merger.
 
In the Govan Mbeki ward 5 by-election the DA polled 92.45%, a 35% increase in support from the 2006 result of 57.05%. The ANC polled 6.48%, down from 27.25% in 2006. 
 
Each DA victory shows that South Africa’s democracy is working, with more and more South Africans turning out to vote DA for the first time. 
 
Tonight’s results demonstrate the extent to which the DA is increasing support across all communities, across South Africa.