DA keeps Kouga with 18 of 30 seats in Jeffreys Bay
Provisional IEC tallies give the DA 18 of 30 seats on the Kouga council, covering Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp and Hankey. The ANC has 8 seats. Count is complete at 100% of voting districts.
Provisional IEC figures show the Democratic Alliance with a majority on the Kouga local council: 18 of 30 seats, after every voting district was counted (The Outlier, update 13:36 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; Rateweb Kouga results from IEC data, same timestamp).
Kouga covers Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp and Hankey in the Eastern Cape. A party needs 16 seats to govern alone. These seats are provisional until the IEC formally declares the council.
What is the Kouga seat split?
| Party | Seats | Ward + PR |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 18 | 11 + 7 |
| African National Congress (ANC) | 8 | 4 + 4 |
| Patriotic Alliance (PA) | 2 | 0 + 2 |
| People's Movement for Change (PMC) | 1 | (PR) |
| Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) | 1 | (PR) |
| Total | 30 | |
| Seats needed for a majority | 16 |
Sources: The Outlier Kouga card (IEC data) for the full seat list; Rateweb for DA, ANC and PA ward-plus-PR splits.
How big was the DA's vote share?
On Rateweb's IEC feed with the count complete, the DA has about 58.6% of the vote (47,792 votes), the ANC 24.8% (20,205) and the PA 7.2% (5,903) (Rateweb).
SABC News reported that this is the DA's third consecutive outright majority in Kouga after 2016 and 2021, and that the party grew from 16 seats in the previous 29-seat council to 18 in the new 30-seat council. The ANC dropped from 11 seats to 8 on that comparison, while the PA moved from one seat to two.
Was Kouga the DA's only Eastern Cape majority so far?
IOL reported on Thursday evening that Kouga was the only Eastern Cape council the DA had won outright by then, while the ANC still led most of the province on the unfinished provincial count. Neighbouring Nelson Mandela Bay was still counting on Friday, with the DA leading on the party vote but short of the 61 seats needed for a metro majority (Rateweb national results).
What happens next in Kouga?
Once the IEC declares the council elected, the first council meeting must be held within 14 calendar days, where councillors elect a speaker and mayor under the Municipal Structures Act. With an outright majority, the DA can elect those office-bearers without needing a coalition partner, unless it chooses a broader deal.
Check live seat status on the IEC results dashboard, The Outlier and Rateweb. For the national hung-council picture, see Reported's 88 of 129 finished councils hung.
FAQ
Did the DA win a majority in Kouga?
On provisional IEC-based tallies with every voting district counted, yes. The Outlier shows the DA on 18 of 30 seats. A majority needs 16.
Which towns fall under Kouga municipality?
Kouga includes Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp and Hankey in the Eastern Cape Sarah Baartman District.
How many seats does the ANC have in Kouga?
The ANC has 8 seats on the provisional Outlier and Rateweb tallies, second behind the DA.
When must Kouga elect a mayor?
After the IEC declares the council, the first meeting to elect a speaker and mayor must be held within 14 calendar days.