Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Matzikama come from
Every fact on the Matzikama page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
As of 21 Apr 2026: IOL reported in April 2026 that Matzikama is one of 11 municipalities 'currently under' DA governance. The DA named Richard van Huyssteen as its Matzikama mayoral candidate.
Cape Argus. Published 21 April 2026.
Where to look: DA section (paragraphs 12-13): 'named candidates for 11 municipalities, all currently under its governance', followed by the list
As of 21 Aug 2025: The DA kept Matzikama ward 7 (Vanrhynsdorp) in an August 2025 by-election. Daily Maverick says this gives the DA, with the FF Plus seat, 8 of the 15 seats. It also says the DA now has enough seats to take back the mayoral chain (the mayor's chain of office). It would take it from the coalition of the PA, ANC, EFF and GOOD.
Daily Maverick. Published 21 August 2025.
Where to look: Ward 7 (Matzikama) section, paragraphs 9 and 12
As of 21 Aug 2025: The Western Cape High Court overturned an attempt by a coalition of the ANC, PA and EFF to take control of the Matzikama council. No party won more than half the seats on that council. The DA then kept its Vanrhynsdorp ward in an August 2025 by-election.
EWN. Published 21 August 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-2 ('the Western Cape High Court recently overturned an attempt by a coalition of the ANC, PA and EFF to wrest control')
As of 24 Jun 2025: The DA asked the Western Cape High Court to cancel the decisions of the 29 May 2025 Matzikama council meeting. Until that meeting a coalition of the DA and FF Plus governed the council.
Daily Maverick. Published 24 June 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 1, 3 and 6
As of 29 May 2025: On 29 May 2025 motions of no confidence removed the DA speaker, mayor and deputy mayor of Matzikama. A coalition of the ANC, PA, EFF and GOOD then elected Monica Bottom (PA) as mayor. It also elected Johan Muller (ANC) as speaker (the councillor who chairs council meetings).
Daily Maverick. Published 29 May 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 3-4
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 15 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 2, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). Democratic Alliance: 7 (4 ward, 3 party). African National Congress: 3 (3 ward, 0 party). Patriotic Alliance: 2 (1 ward, 1 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). GOOD: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Freedom Front Plus: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 15 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave Matzikama a clean audit (unqualified with no findings) for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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