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Governance

Local government ward by-elections in South Africa

This dataset details municipal ward by-elections following the 2021 local government elections. In addition to tracking changes in ward councillors along with their political affiliations, it documents the reasons behind vacancies, including councillor resignations, expulsions, death from natural causes and murder.

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The data

436 rows, 19 columns.

by-election_year Year
2022 – 2026
by-election_date Text
province Category
Province KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, North West, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State
muni_code Text
Unique municipality identifier code
municipality Text
Municipality name
ward Number
Unique ward identifier code 10101006 – 94706037
party_retained_seat Category
Yes or No field. Indicates whether the political party that previously held the seat won the by-election Yes, No
new_party Category
Political party of the newly elected councillor African National Congress, National Freedom Party, African Unified Movement, Democratic Alliance, Independent, Economic Freedom Fighters, Inkatha Freedom Party, Vryheidsfront Plus, Patriotic Alliance, Cederberg First Residents Association, Team Sugar South Africa, Umkhonto Wesizwe and 3 more
previous_party Category
Political party of the outgoing councillor African National Congress, National Freedom Party, Inkatha Freedom Party, Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Karoo Gemeenskap Party, Al Jama-Ah, Independent, Economic Freedom Fighters, Cederberg First Residents Association, Team Sugar South Africa, Good and 5 more
reason_for_by-election Category
Death, Resignation, Court order, Termination of party membership, Dissolution of council, Expulsion, Party member defected, Suspended, Recalled
cause-of-death Category
Murder, Unknown, Illness, Car accident, Suicide, Heart failure, Fire
method_of_murder Category
If the councillor was murdered, specifies the weapon/method used (eg, shot, stabbed). Left blank if not applicable. Shot, Stabbed, Strangled
new_councillor Text
Name of newly elected ward councillor
previous_councillor Text
Name of former ward councillor
brief_description Text
Brief narrative summary of why a by-election was held
reference_1 Text
Link to source of information on the reason for a by-election
reference_2 Text
Link to additional source of information on the reason for a by-election
reference_3 Category
Link to additional source of information on the reason for a by-election https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/mom-of-slain-anc-councillor-says-party-didnt-deliver-5f4ecd52-e6b5-4cdc-a68b-0617aed1dd54, https://www.news24.com/citypress/politics/judge-orders-an-election-rerun-in-ec-ward-after-independent-candidate-challenged-win-by-anc-councillor-20220222, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/142cmZ8HgE8kxelSQQRXuS7t-YGwvoodP/edit?rtpof=true#gid=710000618, https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2022-05-03-double-murder-rocks-nelson-mandela-bay-anc/?utm_source=Arena+Holdings&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Double+murder+rocks+Nelson+Mandela+Bay+ANC+%7C+Armed+robbery+terror+ends+in+big+splash+%7C+Gqeberha+four+enjoy+60+years+of+brotherhood&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldlive.co.za%2Fnews%2F2022-05-03-double-murder-rocks-nelson-mandela-bay-anc%2F, https://www.facebook.com/100068547315795/videos/1126328681541066, https://twitter.com/waynesussman/status/1552497663601418241, https://www.facebook.com/Umfolozimunicipalit/posts/pfbid0vYaHZy6X6FAYgoDiXqC4QTRfioHHieiD7ZRcz7Z3GgJk6Usu2WJyz8gQGsHmbc4Yl, https://twitter.com/Our_DA/status/1570167346446180352, https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/ifp-wins-highly-contested-ward-in-umhlathuze-municipality-in-northern-kzn-e4abb18c-b3fd-4352-a2e0-b8cef736c228, https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/ncop-approves-dissolution-of-ditsobotla-municipality-despite-das-refusal-20221005, https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/eyethu-baywatch/20221130/281496460302870, https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-26-eff-retains-key-polokwane-ward-makes-inroads-in-another-limpopo-ward-as-anc-notches-landslide-e-cape-win/ and 33 more
reference_death Text
If necessary, tLink to source of information on how a councillor died, if death is the reason for a by-election

Latest rows

by-election_yearby-election_dateprovincemuni_codemunicipalitywardparty_retained_seatnew_partyprevious_partyreason_for_by-electioncause-of-deathmethod_of_murdernew_councillorprevious_councillorbrief_descriptionreference_1reference_2reference_3reference_death
20262026-06-24North WestNW373Rustenburg63703015YesDemocratic AllianceDemocratic AllianceDeathIllnessAndre Van DykIlse EdwardsFollowing the death of the DA's ward councillor Ilse Edwards the party retained the seat with the election of Andre Van Dyk.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-25-da-anc-dominate-in-rustenburg-and-bushbuckridge-wards-to-boost-november-poll-confidence/
20262026-06-24MpumalangaMP325Bushbuckridge83205003YesAfrican National CongressAfrican National CongressDeathIllnessDaphney Fikile MahlalelaPetros Mahommed MaleFollowing the death of ANC councillor Petros Mahommed Male after a short illness the ANC retailed the position with the election of Daphney Fikile Mahlalela.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-25-da-anc-dominate-in-rustenburg-and-bushbuckridge-wards-to-boost-november-poll-confidence/
20262026-06-17Eastern CapeBUFBuffalo City29200010YesAfrican National CongressAfrican National CongressResignationNdyebo Lennox MakeleniPearl HansenAfter ANC councillor Pearl Hansen defected to the PA the ANC retailed the seat with the appointment of Ndyebo Lennox Makeleni.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-18-anc-puts-on-eastern-cape-show-of-force-in-run-up-to-municipal-polls-with-2-ward-sweep-in-buffalo-city/
20262026-06-17Eastern CapeBUFBuffalo City29200001YesAfrican National CongressAfrican National CongressResignationTandiswa GoniweKuhle CilizaAfter ANC councillor Kuhle Ciliza defected to the PA the ANC retailed the seat with the appointment of Tandiswa Goniwe.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-18-anc-puts-on-eastern-cape-show-of-force-in-run-up-to-municipal-polls-with-2-ward-sweep-in-buffalo-city/
20262026-06-10Western CapeWC015Swartland10105011YesPatriotic AlliancePatriotic AllianceResignationRaymond Ricardo MainsGerhardus Elroy WhiteFollowing the resignation of the PA's Gerhardus Elroy White the party retained the seat with the election of Raymond Ricardo Mains.https://www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica/posts/-results-of-by-elections-held-on-10-june-2026-in-the-by-elections-held-on-wednes/1413474434147974/https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-11-patriotic-alliance-notches-easy-win-to-retain-key-malmesbury-ward-worries-mount-for-da/
20262026-05-27North WestNW383Mahikeng63803002YesAfrican National CongressAfrican National CongressDeathIllnessEmmanuel Olebogeng MaganoTshepiso MotshabiFollowing the sudden death of the ANC's Tshepiso Motshabi the party retained the position of ward councillor with the election of Emmanuel Olebogeng Magano.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-28-da-makes-history-with-first-gauteng-township-ward-victory-in-evaton-west/https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/mahikeng-ward-2-councillor-and-mpac-chairperson-tshepiso-motshabi-dies-suddenly-at-47-20260305
20262026-05-27GautengGT421Emfuleni74201028NoDemocratic AllianceAfrican National CongressResignationMaki Emily TshabalalaPeter Cedric DavidsFollowing the resignation of Peter Cedric Davids from the ANC the DA's Maki Emily Tshabalala won the ward councillor position.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-28-da-makes-history-with-first-gauteng-township-ward-victory-in-evaton-west/
20262026-05-13Northern CapeNC087Dawid Kruiper30807015NoPatriotic AllianceDemocratic AllianceResignationChristi-Ann NtlanganisoGerman Donovan David GewersFollowing the resignation of DA ward councillor German Donovan David Gewers the PA's Christi-Ann Ntlanganiso won the election.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-14-northern-cape-rout-pa-pulls-off-a-stunner-in-upington-anc-romps-home-in-prieska/
20262026-05-13Northern CapeNC077Siyathemba30707002NoAfrican National CongressSiyathemba Community MovementResignationFranklin Vaughan LouwRonald John FebruarieSiyathemba Community Movement's Ronald John Februarie resigned from the party to form d'Bokke. His seat was won by the ANC's Franklin Louw.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-14-northern-cape-rout-pa-pulls-off-a-stunner-in-upington-anc-romps-home-in-prieska/
20262026-05-13North WestNW403Matlosana64003020YesAfrican National CongressAfrican National CongressDeathMurderStabbedFortunate Lehlohonolo MahogenReginald Molefi SelloThe ANC's Reginald Molefi Sello was stabbed to death following an altercation in a tavern. The ANC's Fortunate Lehlohonolo Mahogen won the ward.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-14-northern-cape-rout-pa-pulls-off-a-stunner-in-upington-anc-romps-home-in-prieska/
20262026-04-29Western CapeWC044George10404025NoDemocratic AllianceAfrican National CongressResignationJarques Denvar EsauJarques Denvar EsauThe ANC's Jarques Denvar Esau defected to the DA and won the ward for the DA.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-30-pa-snatches-stellenbosch-ward-from-da-as-da-flips-uniondale-from-anc/
20262026-04-29Western CapeWC024Stellenbosch10204016NoPatriotic AllianceDemocratic AllianceResignationElsabe VermeulenElsabe VermeulenThe DA's Elsabe Vermeulen defected to the PA and won the ward for her new party. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-30-pa-snatches-stellenbosch-ward-from-da-as-da-flips-uniondale-from-anc/
Download all 436 rows: CSV JSON

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