With the 2026 local government elections just months away, the Western Cape has become a political battlefield where parties are fighting not just for votesbut for each other’s councillors.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) , Patriotic Alliance (PA) , and African National Congress (ANC) are locked in a fierce three-way contest, with defections, by-election losses, and backroom manoeuvring reshaping the province’s political landscape.
Nowhere is the scramble more visible than in George, where the balance of power has shifted dramatically in recent months.
The George Flashpoint
In October, DA mayoral committee members Marchell Kleynhans and Brendon Adams resigned from the party to join the PA. Their departures triggered by-elections in Wards 17 and 27both previously held by the DA.
The PA won both wards convincingly, taking close to 60% of the vote in one and more than 50% in the other. The result cost the DA its slim governing edge in the 55-seat George council, where it had governed in coalition with the Freedom Front Plus and the ACDP.
Shortly afterwards, DA chief whip and Ward 11 councillor Theresa Jeyi also crossed to the PA.
The instability spread to Saldanha Bay, where acting mayor Charmaine Laubscher resigned from the DA and joined the PA while serving as deputy mayor and acting mayor. Her defection left the council without a mayor or deputy mayor simultaneously.
The DA Fights Back
But the DA has not taken the losses lying down. This week, George ANC ward councillor Jarques Esau left the ANC to join the DA. In November, former ANC Western Cape provincial secretary Neville Delport also defected, followed by ANC councillors Daniel Baadjies, Paul Strauss, and Jason Donn.
Banele Majingo, the former ANC caucus leader in the City of Cape Town, resigned from the ANC and joined the DA in March 2025. The DA has since erected a billboard in Khayelitsha featuring Majingo’s face, reading: “Cape Town’s ANC leader chooses the DA. You can too.”
ANC Insiders Cry Foul
ANC insiders say the steady stream of departures is causing resentment inside the party, particularly among some non-African groupings who feel their numbers are shrinking as colleagues leave for the DA.
A leaked message circulating among party members claims a mass resignation of ANC councillors in the Victor Molosi Regioncovering much of the Garden Routecould be imminent. The message lists up to 15 councillors across Bitou, Knysna, George, Oudtshoorn, Hessequa, and Kannaland who are said to be on the verge of walking out.
The message cites deep frustration with regional leadership, with councillors allegedly feeling attacked and undermined rather than supported, as internal power struggles grip the region.
ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni dismissed the rumours. “There has never been a mass exodus,” he said. He also condemned the DA’s billboard as a “pathetic attempt at reviving their battered image.”
The PA’s Rise
PA national spokesperson Steve Motale said the party’s gains reflect growing support across the province. “We are humbled by the support we are receiving in the Western Cape and across the country,” he said. “Many councillors and ordinary South Africans are joining the PA because our policies resonate with them.”
He dismissed claims that the PA was buying councillors as “baseless.”
Analysts Weigh In
Political analyst Professor André Duvenhage of North-West University said the defections reflect a broader reshuffle ahead of the elections.
“What we are currently seeing is a pattern of individuals defecting from one party to the other, and that has to do with their prospects in terms of their view of what may happen in a future election,” he said. “It’s all about positioning your own interest with regard to the party you believe you will have the best opportunity getting positions of power.”
Analyst Zweli Ndevu said it was promising to see parties working hard to displace traditionally strong holds of their opponents. “It would seem that the PA is doing well in the space, but the big question will they continue with the growth or was it a misplaced hype? Time will tell.”
What Comes Next
The 2026 local government elections will be held between 2 November 2026 and 30 January 2027. Until then, the poaching, defections, and positioning will continue.
For the DA, the challenge is to hold its traditional base while fending off the PA’s advances. For the PA, the task is to convert by-election momentum into sustained growth. For the ANC, the fight is to stop the bleeding and retain relevance in a province where it has long been the third force.
In the Western Cape, the battle lines are drawn. The only question now is who will hold the ground when the votes are counted.
