2019 Western Cape provincial election

The 2019 Western Cape provincial election was held on 8 May 2019 to elect the 6th Western Cape Provincial Parliament. It was the sixth provincial election held since the establishment of the provincial legislature in 1994.

2019 Western Cape provincial election
8 May 2019
All 42 seats to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament
22 seats needed for a majority
Turnout66.28% 6.48%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Alan Winde Cameron Dugmore [n 1] Melikhaya Xego
Party Democratic Alliance African National Congress Economic Freedom Fighters
Last election 59.38% 32.89% 2.11%
Seats before 26 14 1
Seats won 24 12 2
Seat change 2 2 1
Popular vote 1,140,647 589,055 83,075
Percentage 55.45% 28.64% 4.04%
Swing 3.93% 4.25% 1.93%
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Candidate Patricia de Lille Ferlon Christians Peter Marais
Party Good African Christian Democratic Party Freedom Front Plus
Last election (New party) 1.02% 0.55%
Seats before 0 1 0
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change 1 0 1
Popular vote 61,971 54,762 32,115
Percentage 3.01% 2.66% 1.56%
Swing 3.01% 1.64% 1.01%
Premier before election

Helen Zille
Democratic Alliance

 Elected Premier

Alan Winde
Democratic Alliance

Incumbent Premier Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance (DA) was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third term. The party nominated Alan Winde to succeed her.[1][2]

The provincial election was won by the ruling Democratic Alliance (DA), but with a reduced majority of 55.45%, down from 59.38% in the 2014 election. The party lost two seats and achieved a majority of 24 seats in the legislature. The Official Opposition African National Congress (ANC) declined from 32.89% to 28.64%, and also lost two seats. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) significantly grew, going from 2.11% to 4.04%, and, consequently, gained one seat. The newly-formed Good received 3.11% of the vote and won a seat. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) grew to 2.66% and retained its sole seat. The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and Al Jama-ah also won one seat each.

Background

The 2014 provincial election resulted in the continuation of the incumbent Democratic Alliance provincial government headed by Helen Zille. This would be Zille's second and final term as Premier of the Western Cape. The party increased its seat total from 22 to 26 seats. The African National Congress with Marius Fransman remained the Official Opposition with 14 seats. The newly-formed Economic Freedom Fighters became the third largest party with only one seat. The African Christian Democratic Party retained its sole seat.[3][4]

On 18 April 2015, incumbent Democratic Alliance Provincial Leader Ivan Meyer announced that he would not seek re-election. Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille was elected as his successor.[5][6][7]

In January 2016, allegations of sexual harassment were made against African National Congress Provincial Chairperson Marius Fransman by his former assistant, Louisa Wynand. The party named Khaya Magaxa as his acting successor. Fransman was suspended as Provincial Chairperson in February 2016, and expelled from the African National Congress in November 2016.[8][9]

In February 2017, Patricia de Lille resigned as Provincial Leader of the Democratic Alliance in order to focus on her mayorship. Deputy Provincial Leader Bonginkosi Madikizela was designated as the interim leader of the party. Madikizela was later elected to a full term in October 2017.[10][11][12][13]

Throughout 2017 and 2018, the Democratic Alliance accused Patricia de Lille of maladministration and covering up corruption in the City of Cape Town. She strongly denied these allegations.[14][15][16]

In April 2018, former Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool was announced as the head of the ANC’s Western Cape elections campaign.[17]

In August 2018, Patricia de Lille announced that she would resign as Mayor of Cape Town, effective on 31 October 2018.[18][19]

In September 2018, The Democratic Alliance selected Alan Winde as the party's Western Cape Premier candidate.[20]

In October 2018, Patricia de Lille resigned as both Mayor of Cape Town and member of the Democratic Alliance. She was succeeded by her predecessor, Dan Plato. She subsequently founded a new political party named Good in December 2018. The party contested the 2019 elections both nationally and provincially.[21][22]

On 6 November 2018, former Provincial Minister of Community Safety Dan Plato was elected Mayor of Cape Town on 6 November 2018 during a special council sitting, receiving 146 out of 202 valid votes. Six ballots were spoilt. The vote was held via secret ballot. His main challengers were Xolani Sotashe from the African National Congress and Grant Haskin from the African Christian Democratic Party. Sotashe received 53 votes while Haskin got 3 votes.[23]

On 22 January 2019, the Freedom Front Plus announced that it had selected former Premier of the Western Cape and Mayor of Cape Town, Peter Marais, as its party premier candidate.[24][25]

Contesting parties and premier candidates

This is a list of political parties that the IEC presented on 20 March 2019 in the order that they appeared on the provincial ballot:[26]

Democratic Alliance

On 1 July 2018, the Democratic Alliance announced its list of candidates nominated for the position of premier.[27] These candidates included:

On 19 September 2018, Democratic Alliance National Leader Mmusi Maimane announced Alan Winde as the party's premier candidate.[28]

African National Congress

By January 2019, the provincial African National Congress had not announced its premier candidate or the list of candidates running to replace acting chairperson Khaya Magaxa. Here are a few candidates that were speculated to be contenders for both the positions of Provincial Chairperson and premier candidate:

On 18 March 2019, the party's leadership announced that its provincial elective conference would be held after the 2019 elections. Provincial-Secretary Faiez Jacobs and acting Provincial Chairperson Khaya Magaxa both declared that they would not contest the elective conference.[31]

On 25 April 2019, ANC Provincial Elections Head Ebrahim Rasool announced that the party would not field a premier candidate over concerns that it would divide the provincial party.[32]

Soon after the provincial election, the African National Congress announced Cameron Dugmore as the Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and subsequent premier candidate. Dugmore lost to Alan Winde of the Democratic Alliance on 22 May 2019.[33][34]

Economic Freedom Fighters

The Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema announced on 2 February 2019 that the party would not field any premier candidates. City of Cape Town councillor Melikhaya Xego is the party's provincial chairperson. He was also first on the party's provincial parliament list.[35]

African Christian Democratic Party
  • Ferlon Christians, Member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and 2014 ACDP Western Cape Premier candidate

In February 2019, the party selected Christians as its premier candidate.[36]

Freedom Front Plus

On 22 January 2019, the party announced that it had nominated Marais as its premier candidate.[37]

Good

On 10 February 2019, the party announced that it had nominated De Lille as its Western Cape Premier candidate.[38][39]

Land Party

On 26 February 2019, the Land Party selected Nkohla as the party's premier candidate.[40]

Opinion polling
Polling Organisation Fieldwork Date Sample Size DA ANC EFF Others Don't Know Lead
2019 General Election Results 8 May 2019 N/A 55.5 28.6 1.9 14 N/A 26.9
IRR 12 Feb 2019—26 Feb 2019 N/A 50.1 33.9 1.0 10.8 4.2 16.2
Afrobarometer Aug—Sep 2018 N/A 31 23 3 5 39 8
Ipsos 20 Apr—7 Jun 2018 N/A 28 26 3 2 41 2
Ipsos May 2017 430 47 20 3 2 28 27
2014 General Election Results 7 May 2014 N/A 59.4 32.9 2.1 5.6 N/A 26.5

Footnotes
  1. Dugmore was announced as the ANC's premier candidate following the election.

Results
 
Party Votes % +/− Seats +/−
Democratic Alliance 1,140,647 55.45 3.93 24 2
African National Congress 589,055 28.64 4.25 12 2
Economic Freedom Fighters 83,075 4.04 1.93 2 1
Good 61,971 3.01 New 1 New
African Christian Democratic Party 54,762 2.66 1.64 1 0
Freedom Front Plus 32,115 1.56 1.01 1 1
Al Jama-ah 17,607 0.86 0.24 1 1
Independent Civic Organisation 9,536 0.46 0.10 0 0
Cape Party 9,331 0.45 New 0 New
Congress of the People 6,528 0.32 0.27 0 0
Alliance for Transformation for All 6,175 0.30 New 0 New
Land Party 5,926 0.29 New 0 New
United Democratic Movement 5,728 0.28 0.20 0 0
African Transformation Movement 4,953 0.24 New 0 New
Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners 3,851 0.19 New 0 New
Pan Africanist Congress 3,845 0.19 0.02 0 0
Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party 3,026 0.15 New 0 New
African Independent Congress 2,898 0.14 0.17 0 0
Green Party 2,613 0.13 New 0 New
National Freedom Party 2,240 0.11 0.07 0 0
Khoisan Revolution 1,854 0.09 New 0 New
Dienslewerings Party 1,703 0.08 New 0 New
Karoo Democratic Force 1,512 0.07 New 0 New
African Covenant 993 0.05 New 0 New
African People's Convention 915 0.04 0.02 0 0
People's Republic of South Africa 710 0.03 New 0 New
Inkatha Freedom Party 599 0.03 0.02 0 0
All Things Are Possible 556 0.03 New 0 New
African Progressive Movement 531 0.03 New 0 New
Azanian People's Organisation 475 0.02 0.02 0 0
Free Democrats 470 0.02 New 0 New
New South Africa Party 444 0.02 New 0 New
Forum for Service Delivery 310 0.02 New 0 New
African Content Movement 257 0.01 New 0 New
Total 2,057,212 100.00 42
Valid votes 2,057,212 99.20
Spoilt votes 16,516 0.80
Total votes cast 2,073,728 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 3,128,567 66.28
Source: IEC

References
  1. Alan Winde announced as DA premier candidate in Western Cape, News24, 19 September 2019. Retrieved on 18 March 2019.
  2. Breaking: Alan Winde revealed as the DA’s choice for Western Cape premier, The South Africa, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 18 March 2019.
  3. Helen Zille re-elected Western Cape premier. Retrieved on 18 March 2019.
  4. Zille re-elected at WCape premier. Retrieved on 18 March 2019.
  5. Herman, Paul.De Lille named DA Western Cape leader, News24, 18 April 2015. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  6. De Lille elected DA provincial leader, eNCA, 18 April 2015. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  7. De Lille crowned new Western Cape DA leader, Mail & Guardian, 18 April 2015. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  8. Khaya Magaxa replaces Fransman in Western Cape legislature, News24, 16 February 2016. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  9. ANC suspends Marius Fransman for 5 years, News24. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  10. Patricia de Lille resigns as Western Cape provincial leader, BusinessTECH. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  11. Bonginkosi Madikizela is the new Western Cape DA leader. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  12. De Lille resigns as DA provincial leader, IOL, 29 January 2017. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  13. Patricia de Lille resigns as DA Western Cape leader, TimesLIVE, 30 January 2017. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  14. Felix, Jason. Three senior Cape Town city managers accused of corruption. IOL, 22 November 2017. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  15. UNPACKED: The 8 main accusations against De Lille, News24, 15 January 2018. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  16. Corruption and confusion: DA stands firm on criminal probe into Patricia de Lille and co, News24, 25 October 2017. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  17. Rasool returns. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  18. OVERVIEW: De Lille resigns, DA withdraws internal charges against her. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  19. DA officially confirms De Lille resignation, Mail & Guardian. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  20. DA picks Alan Winde as Western Cape Premier candidate. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  21. De Lille resigns as Cape Town mayor, quits DA. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  22. Patricia de Lille announces name of new party. Retrieved on 24-12-2018.
  23. Evans, Jenni. Dan Plato elected as Cape Town mayor, News24. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  24. Peter Marais announces his political comeback and Twitter was a riot, TimesLIVE, 23 January 2019. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  25. Gerber, Jan.Peter Marais says he is back to fight for Afrikaans, self-determination and for Christian values, News24, 22 January 2019. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  26. Electoral Commission on parties which will contest national and provincial elections 2019. Retrieved on 27 April 2019.
  27. DA hopefuls eye Western Cape top job. Retrieved on 24-12-2018
  28. Gerber, Jan.Alan Winde announced as DA premier candidate in Western Cape, News24, 19 September 2018. Retrieved on 25 April 2019.
  29. No Western Cape ANC leader
  30. Race is on to pick Western Cape ANC premier candidate. Retrieved on 19 March 2019.
  31. WC ANC to hold elective conference after May elections. Retrieved on 19 March 2019.
  32. ANC Western Cape won't announce premier candidate before 8 May, Eyewitness News, 25 April 2019. Retrieved on 26 April 2019.
  33. Western Cape ANC welcomes Cameron Dugmore appointment as leader of official opposition in legislature. Retrieved on 1 July 2019.
  34. CAMERON DUGMORE APPOINTED AS OPPOSITION LEADER. Retrieved on 1 July 2019.
  35. No premier candidates for EFF - Malema
  36. ACDP launches election manifesto, promises Godly government. Retrieved on 17 February 2019.
  37. Peter Marais re-enters political ring as WC premier candidate for FF Plus. Retrieved on 3 February 2019.
  38. De Lille nominated as Good’s premier candidate for Western Cape. Retrieved on 10 February 2019.
  39. De Lille revealed as Western Cape premier candidate for GOOD, IOL, Cape Town, 10 February 2019.
  40. #Elections2019: Land Party names Cape candidate, IOL, Cape Town, 26 February 2019. Retrieved on 28 April 2019.
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