DA claims E Cape by-elections

2009-06-25 14:03

Port Elizabeth - The DA has won two by-elections in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

DA provincial spokesperson Bobby Stevenson said the DA achieved a landslide victory against the Congress of the People in wards six and nine in Wednesday's by-elections.

"This is a massive boost to the Democratic Alliance and a vote of confidence in the DA's style of opposition politics."

Stevenson said any hopes Cope might have had of making inroads into the DA support base had been shattered.

He said Cope had, in fact, gone backwards from the seven percent it received in each ward in the recent general election.

"The DA's share of the vote has increased from the previous municipal election from 87 to 99%," he said in a statement.

Stevenson said in ward six the DA's Retief Odendaal received 1 475 votes and Cope 15.

In ward nine, Hein Muller received 2 109 votes and Cope 33.

The DA said the two new councillors were in their late twenties and their expertise as practising attorneys would serve the city well.

- SAPA