ActionSA has achieved a major political milestone by securing its first-ever by-election victory, five years after the party was formed. The party won the contested seat in the Ramotshere-Moiloa Local Municipality in the North West province, narrowly defeating the African National Congress (ANC) by just two votes.
This victory is significant not only for ActionSA’s growth as a political force but also because it marks the first time since 2006 that the ANC has lost control of a ward in this municipality.
The closely contested ward 7 by-election was triggered after the ANC’s Petrus Mokgatlhe, who previously held the seat, was dismissed from the party for ill-discipline. ActionSA fielded Moses Moumakwa as its candidate — and in a nail-biting finish, he emerged victorious by just two votes.
Ramotshere-Moiloa has long been considered an ANC stronghold. Since the 2006 local government elections, the ANC has dominated all 19 wards in the municipality. This makes ActionSA’s victory a historic political upset and a strong indicator of shifting voter sentiment in the region.
The Electoral Commission confirmed that the final vote tally gave ActionSA a narrow but decisive win over the ANC. This outcome reflects growing discontent with the ruling party at a local level and increasing confidence in alternative political movements.
ActionSA Breaks ANC Stronghold in Ramotshere-Moiloa
With this victory, Moses Moumakwa officially takes over as the new ward 7 councillor. His win represents ActionSA’s first seat in the Ramotshere-Moiloa Local Municipality, a development that strengthens the party’s footprint in the North West province.
Moumakwa replaces Petrus Mokgatlhe of the ANC, whose dismissal paved the way for the by-election. The outcome also demonstrates that independent-minded voters and smaller communities are increasingly open to supporting opposition parties when service delivery expectations are not met.
Moumakwa is expected to prioritize issues such as improving local governance, addressing service delivery challenges, and ensuring accountability in municipal operations — areas ActionSA has consistently highlighted as part of its core campaign promises.
Earlier this year, ActionSA entered into a strategic merger with Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) — a move that significantly boosted the party’s grassroots presence, particularly in the North West. F4SD has long held influence in local communities, advocating for improved service delivery and community-led development.
This partnership is widely regarded as one of the key reasons ActionSA has expanded its support base in municipalities where the ANC previously enjoyed near-total dominance.
The Ramotshere-Moiloa by-election was one of the first tests of this strengthened alliance — and the result suggests that ActionSA’s strategy is paying off.
Following the victory, ActionSA’s national chairperson Michael Beaumont welcomed the by-election results as a sign of growing momentum for the party.
“Results of last night’s by-election demonstrate that ActionSA is one of the few parties in South Africa growing at the expense of the ANC, at a time when we need to rescue a broken local government system,” Beaumont said.
He added that this win reflects how voters are losing confidence in the ANC’s governance, particularly at the municipal level. Beaumont emphasized that ActionSA aims to provide effective, transparent, and accountable leadership, especially in communities that have experienced years of poor service delivery.
The victory in ward 7 may seem small on paper, but its symbolic and strategic significance cannot be overstated. The North West province has long been a political stronghold for the ANC, but this by-election result indicates that political loyalty is shifting.
Analysts say the win is likely to energize ActionSA’s provincial structures, encouraging the party to contest more wards in the upcoming 2026 local government elections.
This shift also mirrors a national trend, where the ANC is steadily losing ground in urban and rural municipalities alike. ActionSA’s emphasis on service delivery, anti-corruption measures, and local accountability has resonated with voters seeking change.
Residents in Ramotshere-Moiloa have expressed a mix of hope and cautious optimism following the by-election results. Many locals view the change in leadership as a wake-up call to the ANC and a chance for new ideas in local governance.
Community members have voiced expectations that ActionSA will deliver on its promises, particularly in areas like water provision, road maintenance, job creation, and improved service delivery.
ActionSA’s first-ever by-election victory is more than just a ward win — it represents a shift in South Africa’s local political dynamics. By defeating the ANC in a municipality it has controlled since 2006, the party has proven it can compete seriously in traditionally strong ANC territories.
With Moses Moumakwa now representing ward 7 and a growing support base through its merger with F4SD, ActionSA is positioning itself as a credible alternative in local government.
As the 2026 local government elections approach, political analysts expect the party to capitalize on this momentum and challenge the ANC in more municipalities across the country.
Source- EWN
