JOHANNESBURG, Friday 6 November 2026 — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has regained Johannesburg’s wards 17 and 18 from the Patriotic Alliance (PA), reversing two ward victories secured by the smaller party during the 2021 local government elections.
The wards include parts of Eldorado Park, an important area of support for the PA, whose deputy leader Kenny Kunene has served as Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport.
Eyewitness News reported the ward losses on Friday as counting continued across the metropolitan municipality.
PA loses wards won in 2021
The PA took wards 17 and 18 from the DA in the previous municipal elections.
Their return to the DA represents a local electoral setback for the party in an area where it had previously established ward representation.
At the time of Friday’s report, approximately 69% of Johannesburg’s voting districts had been counted, with the PA recording about 1% of the provisional citywide vote.
The party secured eight Johannesburg council seats in 2021 after winning almost 3% of the vote.
McKenzie signals willingness to work with DA
PA leader Gayton McKenzie acknowledged the electoral outcome and said the party would respect voters’ decision.
Despite expressing strong personal opposition to the DA, McKenzie indicated that the PA would be willing to cooperate with it in coalition negotiations.
His remarks do not constitute a coalition agreement.
Kunene, meanwhile, defended his performance as Johannesburg’s transport MMC despite continuing public concerns about deteriorating roads and malfunctioning traffic lights.
Coalition implications
The loss of the two wards could weaken the PA’s representation in Johannesburg, although the party’s final council-seat allocation will depend on completed election results.
The DA was leading the provisional metropolitan count, but no final governing majority had been established.
Johannesburg’s incoming political leadership will depend on the final council composition and any agreements reached between parties.
