ELECTIONS 2026 | Gayton McKenzie’s PA beats DA in Prince Albert

Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance (PA) has beaten the DA in Prince Albert, delivering a major upset in the Western Cape’s 2026 local government elections.

The PA secured 49% of the municipal proportional representation vote, leaving the DA trailing on 37.2%.

The ANC finished a distant third with 6.7%.

The result marks a major breakthrough for McKenzie’s party, which has significantly increased its support in the Central Karoo municipality.

PA wins four of five wards

The PA won four of Prince Albert’s five wards, leaving the DA with just one.

It also secured five of the municipality’s 10 council seats, compared with the DA’s four and the ANC’s one.

The result represents a sharp turnaround from 2021, when the PA received 14.3% of the proportional representation vote.

Five years later, its support has climbed by nearly 35 percentage points.

The DA, meanwhile, has lost its position as the municipality’s largest party.

PA needs one more seat

Despite finishing first, the PA has not secured an outright majority in Prince Albert.

The party needs six council seats to govern independently but has won only five.

It must therefore secure support from another party if it wants to take control of the municipality.

The ANC’s single seat could prove decisive in negotiations over the next administration.

The IEC has completed counting in all nine voting districts, with turnout reaching approximately 70.6%.

The result gives the PA its strongest electoral position in Prince Albert, but coalition negotiations will determine who governs the municipality.