Despite drawing nearly 100,000 supporters to its 10th-anniversary celebration, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party continues to face challenges where it matters most: at the ballot box. The recent by-elections exemplify this trend, with the party garnering only 1.4% of the vote in Ward 102 JHB. The final 2023 by-election results for this ward saw the Democratic Alliance (DA) clinching 94.67% of the vote, the African National Congress (ANC) securing 3.12%, and the EFF managing a mere 1.41%, with OHM trailing at 0.80%.
Ward 102, a substantial constituency encompassing a significant portion of Johannesburg’s Randburg area, includes the affluent Bryanston suburb. The ward also comprises key localities such as Bordeaux, Fontainebleau, Blairgowrie, and Lyme Park. With more registered voters than all other wards combined in this round of by-elections, Ward 102 held considerable electoral weight.
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Amidst EFF’s 10th-anniversary celebrations, the party’s presence on social media took an unfavorable turn. Instead of generating positive attention for drawing substantial African crowds, the EFF attracted criticism for chanting “kill the boer,” raising concerns about the party’s messaging and intentions.
The DA secured a commanding victory in the by-election, obtaining 98% of the vote in Bryanston, and achieving 97% in Blairgowrie and Lyme Park, which includes St Stithians College. Meanwhile, ANC’s strongest performance was in Bordeaux, where it garnered 13% of the vote in the 2021 local government elections and maintained 12% in the by-elections. Turnout remained low, particularly in the Bordeaux district, with only 10% of registered voters participating. The EFF’s struggle to convert its massive supporter base into electoral success continues to raise questions about its effectiveness as a political force.
In the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape, the ANC managed to secure 66% of the vote in Ward 25 (Nomonde Molteno) and 89% in Ward 8 (Lucwecwe Mazangweni) and Ward 12 (Gqutyini Mkanzi). These rural areas are characterized by their unique settings and populations. Another notable contest unfolded in North West’s Ward 25 (Bapong Bokfontein), Madibeng in the Bojanala region. Here, the ANC secured 67% of the vote, while the EFF garnered 30%. The region, known for its platinum mining activities, witnessed a significant ANC victory.
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