Morning synopsis ahead of final results

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ELECTIONS NEWS AND VIDEO - Looking at election results early on Friday 10 May and ahead of the official declaration of provincial results that is expected at approximately 12:00, it is clear that the Democratic Alliance in the Southern Cape/Karoo area has managed to consolidate its support.

Mossel Bay is leading the DA support with a confirmed figure of 61.2% of the vote.

The only region bucking the trend is Kannaland, longtime stronghold, and hometown of Icosa leader Jeffrey Donson. Icosa amassed 38.9% of the support, with the closest rival, the DA, lagging by more than 10 percentage points at 28.58%.

Although in low percentages, newcomer GOOD has made its presence felt in the region, showing in the top five or six party lists of Oudtshoorn (2.60%), George (2.23%), Hessequa (0.66%) and Laingsburg (1.87%).

The EFF proved to be the disruptor, unseating traditional opposition parties in a number of towns. In Knysna (3.23%), George (3.16%), Laingsburg (3.36%), Bitou (3.52%), Oudtshoorn (2.76%), and Mossel Bay (2.59%) the party made its presence felt.

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Political analysts agree that voters in many occasions have split their vote between the national and provincial ballots, with many choosing to give their national vote to a different party, while still supporting the DA in the Western Cape.

Apart from Kannaland, Icosa support seems to dwindle with the party only managing to make it into the top numbers in Oudtshoorn (2.72%) and Mossel Bay (2.48%). Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder told Group Editors that he is optimistic about the support his party received in the Southern Cape.

The FF+ support reflects in the top five parties in Mossel Bay (8.68%), Hessequa (7.35%), Oudtshoorn (6.98%), George (5.96%), Kannaland (3.92%), Laingsburg (3.62%), Knysna (2.69%), and Bitou (1.87%).

Only one of the Karoo parties, the Karoo Democratic Force, participated in this year's election but did not manage to garner considerable support.

DA support, compared over the last three national and provincial elections, has however waned somewhat when compared to 2014. Support in the Western Cape peaked in 2014 (59.38%), but the 2019 provincial support of 51.63% is still an improvement on 2009 (48.78%).

For the principal opposition party in the province, the ANC, support shows a similar trend: 2019 (29.25%%), 2014 (32.89%%) and 2009 (31.55%%).

With a few voting station's results in the greater Cape Town being consolidated at this time, the final support base of the ANC may change for the Western Cape, however not for the Southern Cape where the results have been consolidated.