ANC wins Nama Khoi by-election

THE ANC has won the by-election held on May 14 in the Nama Khoi Municipality, securing victory with 37% of the vote. ANC candidate Simon Kleinbooi, popularly known as "Pappa Saai", has been elected as the new Ward 5 councillor.

The seat became vacant after the Namakwa Civic Movement (NCM) councillor crossed the floor to join the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

The municipality was previously governed by an opposition-led coalition. Following the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC held seven seats, the DA five, the NCM four, and the FF+ one.

The by-election was contested by Kleinbooi (ANC), Calvino Watt (NCM), Joselin Hendriks (DA), Callie Watt (PA), Willem August (EFF), and independent candidate Maria April.

Kleinbooi received 779 votes, followed by the NCM with 572 and the PA with 437. The DA garnered 296 votes, the EFF 11, and the independent candidate five. Voter turnout was 64%.