Stellenbosch DA wins majority: 28 of 45 seats after 2026 vote
Provisional IEC tallies give the DA 28 of 45 seats on the Stellenbosch council, a clear majority. ANC is second on 5 seats, PA on 4.
Provisional IEC figures now show the Democratic Alliance with a majority on the Stellenbosch local council: 28 of 45 seats, after seats were allocated for the Cape Winelands municipality (The Outlier, update 14:20 Africa/Johannesburg on 6 November 2026; ESP Stellenbosch from IEC data; Rateweb Stellenbosch results).
A party needs 23 seats for an outright majority on this 45-seat council. The DA is five seats clear. Treat seats as provisional until the IEC formally declares the council. ESP still showed 49 of 50 voting districts in at 14:21 SAST, with one ward district outstanding, but the seat arithmetic already locks in a DA majority.
What is the Stellenbosch seat split?
| Party | Ward | PR | Total seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Alliance (DA) | 19 | 9 | 28 |
| African National Congress (ANC) | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Patriotic Alliance (PA) | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| GOOD | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| African Transformation Movement (ATM) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 45 | ||
| Seats needed for a majority | 23 |
Source: ESP Stellenbosch seat table (IEC data). The Outlier lists the same DA majority (28 seats), with ANC 5, PA 4, GOOD 2, VF Plus 2 and others 4. Rateweb shows the DA on about 62.1% of the vote (63,743 votes), the ANC 12.1% and the PA 8.1%.
How did the wards fall?
On ESP's reading of IEC ward results, the DA took 19 ward seats and the ANC 4, with proportional-representation seats then topping parties up to the totals above. ESP showed the DA leading on the ward ballot with about 61.5% of ward votes. The ANC's four wards include wards 12 to 15 on the provisional ward list.
How does this fit the Western Cape?
Stellenbosch joins other Western Cape towns where the DA has already secured an outright majority on provisional tallies, including George and the six towns covered in Reported's Drakenstein, Mossel Bay, Overstrand, Swartland, Hessequa and Bergrivier round-up.
Several other Western Cape councils remain hung, including Knysna, Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West and Laingsburg. Cape Town metro is still counting, with the DA leading on provisional figures (Rateweb live results).
What happens next in Stellenbosch?
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, ESP 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 Stellenbosch?
On provisional IEC-based tallies, yes. ESP and The Outlier show the DA on 28 of 45 seats, above the 23 needed for a majority.
How many seats does the ANC have in Stellenbosch?
The ANC has 5 seats on the provisional ESP seat tally, second behind the DA.
When must Stellenbosch 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.