City of Cape Town elections

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The council of the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa is elected every five years by a system of mixed-member proportional representation.

Half of the councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting from individual wards, while the other half are appointed from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. By-elections are held to replace the councillors elected by wards if a vacancy occurs.

Results

The following table shows the composition of the council after past elections and floor-crossing periods.

More information Event, ACDP ...
Event ACDP ALJ ANC COPE DA EFF FF+ ID NNP PAC PA UDM Other Total
2000 election 877107134200
2002 floor-crossing 8807132135200
2004 floor-crossing 61047045137200
2006 election 78190123125210
2007 floor-crossing 78195116118210
2011 election 317331351113221
2016 election 32571154711113231
2021 election 6343013510414124231
2026 election 233
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December 2000 election

Seats in the city council after the 2000 election.
Government:
  DA (107)
Opposition:
  ANC (77)
  ACDP (8)
  Others (8)

The current form of the City of Cape Town was created in 2000 by merging the six transitional municipalities in the Cape Town metropolitan area (Cape Town/Central, South Peninsula, Blaauwberg, Tygerberg, Oostenberg and Helderberg) and the overarching Cape Metropolitan Council. The council of the new municipality consisted of 200 members, 100 elected from wards and the other 100 from party lists. The election was held on 5 December 2000; the Democratic Alliance won a majority of 107 seats.

More information Party, List ...
PartyListWardTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance377,88553.2841372,03252.6166107
African National Congress272,18138.3843268,12437.923477
African Christian Democratic Party25,9763.66827,9723.9608
United Democratic Movement11,2311.5839,0981.2903
Africa Muslim Party8,0561.1426,4840.9202
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania4,5290.6411,8730.2601
Moderate Independent Party2,3290.3311,5280.2201
Green Party1,9730.2804770.0700
Inkatha Freedom Party1,6480.2312,2870.3201
Cape People's Congress1,0450.1501,0710.1500
Azanian People's Organisation1,0250.1401,1200.1600
Helderberg Community Civic Organization8690.1206250.0900
Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party4890.0700
Independents14,4012.0400
Total709,236100.00100707,092100.00100200
Valid votes709,23698.87707,09298.81
Invalid/blank votes8,1291.138,4971.19
Total votes717,365100.00715,589100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,269,58256.501,269,58256.36
Source: Electoral Commission[1][2]
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By-elections from December 2000 to October 2002

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the election in December 2000 and the floor crossing period in October 2002.

More information Date, Ward ...
DateWardParty of the previous councillorParty of the newly elected councillor
25 April 2001[3] 34 African National Congress African National Congress
15 August 2001[4] 71 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
28 August 2002[5] 62 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
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October 2002 floor crossing

Seats in the city council after the 2002 floor crossing.
Government:
  ANC (80)
  NNP (32)
Opposition:
  DA (71)
  ACDP (8)
  Others (9)

In terms of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and the judgment of the Constitutional Court in United Democratic Movement v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others, in the period from 8–22 October 2002 councillors had the opportunity to cross the floor to a different political party without losing their seats.

In the Cape Town city council, the Democratic Alliance (DA) lost 31 councillors to the New National Party (NNP), which had formerly been part of the DA. The DA also lost 3 councillors to the African National Congress (ANC), 1 to the Universal Party and 1 who became an independent. The sole councillor of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) also crossed to the NNP.[6] The ANC and the NNP formed a coalition which held a majority of 112 seats.

More information Party, Seats before ...
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By-elections from October 2002 to August 2004

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the floor crossing periods in October 2002 and September 2004.

September 2004 floor crossing

Seats in the city council after the 2004 floor crossing.
Government:
  ANC (104)
  NNP (5)
Opposition:
  DA (70)
  ACDP (6)
  Others (15)

Another floor-crossing period occurred on 1–15 September 2004. 23 of the 32 NNP councillors crossed to the ANC, giving the ANC a majority of 104 seats. A further 4 NNP councillors crossed to the ID. 2 councillors of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) crossed to the Federation of Democrats, a new party.[10]

More information Party, Seats before ...
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By-elections from September 2004 to February 2006

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the floor crossing periods in September 2004 and the election in March 2006.

More information Date, Ward ...
DateWardParty of the previous councillorParty of the newly elected councillor
24 November 2004[11] 32 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
7 September 2005[12] 21 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
48 African National Congress African National Congress
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March 2006 election

Seats in the city council after the 2006 election.
Government:
  DA (90)
  ACDP (7)
  Others (8)
Opposition:
  ANC (81)
  ID (23)
  PAC (1)

At the election of 1 March 2006, the city council was expanded to 210 members with the addition of 5 new wards and 5 new PR list councillors. No party obtained a majority, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) winning 90 seats, the African National Congress (ANC) 81, and the new Independent Democrats (ID) 23.

After much negotiation, a seven-party governing coalition was formed, consisting of the DA, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the Africa Muslim Party (AMP), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the Freedom Front Plus (VF+), the United Independent Front (UIF), and the Universal Party (UP). The coalition held 105 seats, exactly half of the council, compared to the 104 seats held by the ANC and ID together. The single councillor from the Pan Africanist Congress abstained from the election of the mayor.[13]

More information Party, List ...
PartyListWardTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance306,24642.2629303,29941.456190
African Christian Democratic Party22,7573.14724,1453.3007
Africa Muslim Party9,7491.3539,5671.3103
United Democratic Movement6,8690.9525,0810.6902
Freedom Front Plus3,5490.4913,6210.4901
United Independent Front1,9160.2611,5560.2101
Universal Party1,0090.1411,3370.1801
Seven-party coalition total352,09548.5844348,60647.6561105
African National Congress280,23238.6740271,87337.164181
Independent Democrats79,83911.022076,71110.48323
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania4,7220.6512,3860.3301
Inkatha Freedom Party9810.1401,2540.1700
Federation of Democrats9460.1301,1900.1600
Pro Ratepayers Party9420.1309770.1300
Moderate Independent Party7150.1009340.1300
Progressive Independent Movement7100.1000
Pension Poverty Relief and Unemployment Front6830.0905730.0800
Azanian People's Organisation6420.0902800.0400
Peace and Justice Congress6260.0907340.1000
Alliance of Free Democrats5410.070610.0100
First Community Party4140.0601990.0300
Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party3280.0504320.0600
Workers International Vanguard League2970.0400
United Party1,2760.1700
Independents24,1513.3000
Total724,713100.00105731,637100.00105210
Valid votes724,71397.88731,63798.77
Invalid/blank votes15,6642.129,1021.23
Total votes740,377100.00740,739100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,486,78149.801,486,78149.82
Source: Electoral Commission[14][15]
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By-elections from March 2006 to August 2007

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the election in March 2006 and the floor crossing period in September 2007.

More information Date, Ward ...
DateWardParty of the previous councillorParty of the newly elected councillor
7 June 2006[16] 82 Independent Democrats Democratic Alliance[Note 1]
7 February 2007[17] 74 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
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September 2007 floor crossing

Seats in the city council after the 2007 floor crossing.
Government:
  DA (95)
  ID (16)
  ACDP (7)
  Others (3)
Opposition:
  ANC (81)
  Others (8)

The final floor-crossing period occurred on 1–15 September 2007; floor-crossing was subsequently abolished in 2008 by the Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution. In the Cape Town city council, the ID lost three councillors to the new National People's Party (NPP), two to the DA and one to the new Social Democratic Party. The UDM and the UIF each lost one councillor to the DA, and the AMP lost one councillor to the NPP.[18] Control of the council was not affected because the ID had joined the governing coalition earlier in the year.

More information Party, Seats before ...
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By-elections from September 2007 to May 2011

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the floor crossing period in September 2007 and the election in May 2011.

More information Date, Ward ...
DateWardParty of the previous councillorParty of the newly elected councillor
19 March 2008[19] 15 Democratic Alliance Independent Democrats
16 July 2008[20] 103 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
10 December 2008[21][Note 2] 33 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
34 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
35 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
45 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
52 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
75 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
87 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
88 African National Congress Congress of the People[Note 3]
25 March 2009[22] 2 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
79 Independent Democrats Democratic Alliance[Note 1]
6 May 2009[23] 71 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
24 June 2009[24] 9 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
14 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
70 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
73 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
18 November 2009[25] 32 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
26 May 2010[26] 44 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
21 July 2010[27] 34 Congress of the People African National Congress
35 Congress of the People African National Congress
98 African National Congress African National Congress
99 African National Congress Democratic Alliance
25 August 2010[28] 49 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
8 December 2010[29] 19 Democratic Alliance Democratic Alliance
104 African National Congress African National Congress
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May 2011 election

Seats in the city council after the 2011 election.
Government:
  DA (135)
Opposition:
  ANC (73)
  Others (13)

At the election of 18 May 2011, the council was expanded to 221 members with the addition of 6 new wards and 5 new PR list seats. The Democratic Alliance won a majority of 135 seats.

More information Party, List ...
PartyListWardTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance682,92961.1557675,02060.6978135
African National Congress370,42033.1740360,82732.443373
Congress of the People12,5961.13312,0591.0803
African Christian Democratic Party11,8731.06315,2271.3703
National Party6,0380.5415,7180.5101
United Democratic Movement4,2900.3814,4020.4001
Al Jama-ah3,9280.3514,3100.3901
Africa Muslim Party3,1570.2814,4300.4001
Cape Muslim Congress2,7400.2513,6580.3301
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania1,9930.1812,6060.2301
Freedom Front Plus1,8640.1712,1210.1901
Democrats for Change1,6370.1509420.0800
African People's Convention1,5130.1407870.0700
Cape Party1,4710.1301,5610.1400
Community Coalition1,2710.1101,7150.1500
National Independent Civic Organisation1,0480.0901,8440.1700
Inkatha Freedom Party1,0310.0901,8880.1700
United Christian Democratic Party8450.080220.0000
National Freedom Party7650.0706940.0600
South African Progressive Civic Organisation7240.0608250.0700
National People's Party7070.0601,2210.1100
Universal Party6500.0601,0780.1000
National Alliance for Democracy6290.0601,0080.0900
Western Cape Community5740.0502910.0300
United Independent Front4360.0404170.0400
Azanian People's Organisation4050.0403220.0300
African Bond of Unity2750.0202320.0200
Pan Africanist Movement2650.0201320.0100
Social Democratic Party1670.010930.0100
United Civics of South Africa1660.0104230.0400
Abolition of Income Tax and Usury Party1650.0102300.0200
Independent Civic Organisation1510.0100
United Majority Front1240.0103010.0300
Independents5,8930.5300
Total1,116,847100.001101,112,297100.00111221
Valid votes1,116,84799.201,112,29798.98
Invalid/blank votes8,9980.8011,5181.02
Total votes1,125,845100.001,123,815100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,745,85364.491,745,85364.37
Source: Electoral Commission[30][31]
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2011 mayoral election

More information Candidate, Party ...
CandidatePartyVotes%
Patricia de LilleDemocratic Alliance13764.62
Tony EhrenreichAfrican National Congress7535.38
Total212100.00
Valid votes21297.70
Invalid/blank votes52.30
Total votes217100.00
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By-elections from May 2011 to August 2016

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the elections in May 2011 and August 2016.

August 2016 election

Seats in the city council after the 2016 election.
Government:
  DA (154)
Opposition:
  ANC (57)
  EFF (7)
  Others (13)

At the election of 3 August 2016, the council was expanded to 231 members with the addition of 5 new wards and 5 new PR list seats. The Democratic Alliance won a majority of 154 seats.

More information Party, List ...
PartyListWardTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance832,62466.7573831,89066.4681154
African National Congress305,90224.5222302,96524.203557
Economic Freedom Fighters38,8713.12740,2433.2207
African Christian Democratic Party14,1041.13316,1811.2903
African Independent Congress9,5150.7615,2280.4201
Al Jama-ah6,8920.5529,5060.7602
Freedom Front Plus4,9190.3915,3650.4301
United Democratic Movement4,1390.3312,4410.2001
Democratic Independent Party3,4720.2814,0490.3201
Cape Muslim Congress3,3860.2713,0730.2501
Congress of the People3,0150.2413,1750.2501
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania2,9380.2413,3810.2701
National Party2,2960.1801,9880.1600
Patriotic Alliance2,0160.1612,9430.2401
Cape Party1,7600.1401,6080.1300
Africa Muslim Party1,5710.1301,6920.1400
Christian Democratic Party1,0970.0903180.0300
Local People's Party1,0560.0801,6540.1300
African People's Convention9060.0707490.0600
Al Shura Party6850.0501,0850.0900
Independent Civic Organisation6730.0507990.0600
Nationalist Coloured Party6220.0507940.0600
Khoisan Kingdom And All People5270.0402430.0200
Ubuntu Party4900.0401960.0200
National People's Party4490.0408120.0600
Khoisan Revolution4440.0402180.0200
South Africa People's Party4430.0404510.0400
Coloured Voice4420.0404200.0300
The Greens4330.030450.0000
Inkatha Freedom Party3780.030560.0000
South African Progressive Civic Organisation3570.0303460.0300
Sizwe Ummah Nation2830.0202760.0200
People's Democratic Movement2360.0202030.0200
South African People for Equality1710.0101450.0100
Independent Sport Party1220.010390.0000
Patriotic Association1110.010190.0000
Independents7,0770.5700
Total1,247,345100.001151,251,673100.00116231
Valid votes1,247,34598.581,251,67398.83
Invalid/blank votes17,9541.4214,7771.17
Total votes1,265,299100.001,266,450100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,977,69063.981,977,69064.04
Source: Electoral Commission[30][31]
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2016 mayoral election

More information Candidate, Party ...
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By-elections from August 2016 to November 2021

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period between the elections in August 2016 and November 2021.

November 2018 mayoral election

On 31 October 2018, incumbent Mayor Patricia de Lille resigned. An election was held on 6 November 2018 to determine her successor. It was subsequently won by former Mayor, Dan Plato. The candidates nominated were:

The results were as follows.

More information Candidate, Party ...
CandidatePartyVotes%
Dan PlatoDemocratic Alliance14672.28
Xolani SotasheAfrican National Congress5326.24
Grant HaskinAfrican Christian Democratic Party31.49
Total202100.00
Valid votes20297.12
Invalid/blank votes62.88
Total votes208100.00
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November 2021 election

Results of the election by ward and proportional representation seats
Seats in the city council after the 2021 election.
Government:
  DA (135)
Opposition:
  ANC (43)
  EFF (10)
  Good (9)
  Others (34)

The Democratic Alliance won a reduced majority of 136 seats. This was later reduced to 135 seats[57] when after a 7-month legal battle and a recount[58] it was announced on May 26 that the Democratic Alliance had been misallocated a seat that should have been awarded to Cape Independence Party, giving the Cape Independence Party a second seat.

More information Party, Ward ...
PartyWardListTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Democratic Alliance525,51557.7883536,57158.7452135
African National Congress167,90718.4633170,91118.711043
Economic Freedom Fighters37,2554.10037,9134.151010
Good35,8463.94033,6563.6899
Cape Coloured Congress25,2572.78025,8542.8377
African Christian Democratic Party21,7912.40020,8862.2966
Freedom Front Plus14,8251.63014,0251.5444
Patriotic Alliance13,9671.54013,1021.4344
Al Jama-ah11,9641.32010,8301.1933
Africa Restoration Alliance7,3650.8105,8560.6422
Cape Independence Party5,8760.6505,6970.6222
United Independent Movement5,2500.5805,1160.5611
Independent candidates9,9101.0900
Cape Muslim Congress3,2390.3603,3550.3711
United Democratic Movement2,4770.2703,1050.3411
African Independent Congress2,8610.3102,5960.2811
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania1,8210.2002,7290.3011
Democratic Independent Party1,9100.2101,6530.1811
African Transformation Movement8710.1001,8110.2000
Credible Alternative 1st Movement1,1720.1301,2650.1400
Democratic People's Alternative1,3340.1507320.0800
National Freedom Party1,0380.1109780.1100
One Movement for Cape Town8100.0901,1860.1300
The Organic Humanity Movement9820.1109460.1000
Congress of the People6820.0701,2240.1300
African People's Convention9250.1005580.0600
Dagga Party4010.0408280.0900
The Greens5310.0606740.0700
United South Africa5810.0605570.0600
Democratic People's Movement5670.0605660.0600
Spectrum National Party6100.0704660.0500
Sizwe Ummah Nation6070.0704520.0500
African Islamic Movement4450.0505920.0600
Democratic Labour Party2180.0208090.0900
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa4420.0505330.0600
African Progressive Movement1170.0107910.0900
Inkatha Freedom Party950.0108020.0900
United Progressive Party South Africa2770.0305540.0600
God Save Africa890.0106890.0800
Land Party3020.0303840.0400
Our Nation2910.0302990.0300
Economic Emancipation Forum3070.0302040.0200
African Freedom Revolution2530.0302410.0300
Black First Land First1890.0202440.0300
People's Democratic Movement200.0003030.0300
Abantu Batho Congress1340.0101730.0200
Compatriots of South Africa770.0101770.0200
Independent South African National Civic Organisation170.0001840.0200
International Party30.0001580.0200
Eastern Cape Movement320.000980.0100
Free Democrats1110.0100
Democratic Equality Empowerment Party320.0000
Christians of South Africa120.0000
Khoi-San Kingdom of RSA100.0000
Total909,509100.00116913,444100.00115231
Valid votes909,50998.86913,44498.85
Invalid/blank votes10,4851.1410,6651.15
Total votes919,994100.00924,109100.00
Registered voters/turnout1,973,70846.611,973,70846.82
Source: Electoral Commission[59][60][61]
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2021 mayoral election

More information Candidate, Party ...
CandidatePartyVotes%
Geordin Hill-LewisDemocratic Alliance14174.60
Noluthando MakasiAfrican National Congress4624.34
Jack MillerCape Independence Party21.06
Total189100.00
Valid votes18984.38
Invalid/blank votes3515.62
Total votes224100.00
Source: [62]
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By-elections from November 2021

The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period since the election in November 2021.[56]

In ward 56, the DA councillor resigned in November 2022. The DA failed to nominate a candidate in time for the February by-election, which was contested by parties including Good, Al Jama-ah, Economic Freedom Fighters, and the Patriotic Alliance (PA). The PA won the ward with 41% of the vote.[70][71]

November 2026 election

The South African 2026 local elections will be held on 4 November 2026.[72]

The final voting district demarcations were handed over by the Municipal Demarcation Board to the Electoral Commission in December 2025, and it was confirmed that the Western Cape had gained 10 wards.[73] The new total for Cape Town has however not yet been publicly announced.

Notes

  1. The former councillor was re-elected to the ward on behalf of a different party.
  2. The ANC could not stand candidates in this by-election due to a failure to submit paperwork on time.
  3. The former councillor was re-elected to the ward nominally as an independent, but in fact on behalf of COPE, which was not yet a registered party. See http://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/full-western-cape-byelection-results.
  4. By-election was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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