# Patriotic Alliance Secures Electoral Breakthrough in Prince Albert Municipality Gayton McKenzie’s party leads the vote but requires coalition partners to secure governance. - **Source:** [The South African](https://www.thesouthafrican.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/3398a019-4c06-4545-b9c4-865cb8501dc5 ## Significant Electoral Shift The Patriotic Alliance achieved a major upset in Prince Albert’s 2026 local government elections. Securing 49% of the proportional representation vote, the party surged past the DA, which finished with 37.2%. The ANC trailed significantly at 6.7%. This result marks a dramatic increase from the PA’s 14.3% performance in 2021. ## Ward and Seat Distribution The PA captured four of the five available wards in the municipality, leaving the DA with only one. In terms of council representation, the PA holds five of the ten total seats. The DA follows with four seats, while the ANC holds one. Voter turnout for this election reached approximately 70.6%. ## Governance Threshold Challenges Despite their electoral success, the PA failed to secure an outright majority in the council. To govern independently, the party requires six seats but currently holds only five. Consequently, the PA must engage in coalition negotiations to form a stable administration, as no single party holds the necessary majority to rule alone. ## Strategic Coalition Preferences PA President Gayton McKenzie identified the Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and the ANC as preferred coalition partners. McKenzie praised the Freedom Front Plus and ActionSA for their perceived honesty. He also noted that the ANC has proven to be a reliable partner in previous coalition arrangements within various South African municipal contexts. ## Reluctant DA Engagement McKenzie expressed personal hesitation regarding a partnership with the DA, describing it as a necessary compromise. Despite his stated preference against working with them, he acknowledged that political realities might force an alliance. The party remains open to engaging with all political entities to ensure the municipality can function effectively moving forward. ## The ANC’s Decisive Role The ANC’s single council seat has become a critical factor in the ongoing negotiations. Because the PA needs one additional seat to reach the six-seat threshold for a majority, the ANC holds significant leverage. This dynamic forces the PA to balance its ideological preferences against the practical necessity of securing governing power. ## Central Karoo Regional Impact This victory represents a substantial expansion of the PA’s influence within the Central Karoo region. By unseating the DA as the largest party, the PA has fundamentally altered the local political landscape. The shift reflects a broader trend of increased competition in Western Cape municipalities, where traditional party dominance is being challenged. ## Future Governance Outlook As coalition talks commence at the Results Operation Centre in Midrand, the focus shifts to administrative stability. The PA’s ability to translate its electoral plurality into a functional government depends on these delicate negotiations. Observers are now watching to see which party will provide the final seat required for a majority. ## Sources covering this story - [Source — Patriotic Alliance Outlines Preferred Coalition Partners Following Election Results](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/pa-favours-coalition-with-ff-actionsa-and-anc-but-less-keen-on-da/) - [The South African — Patriotic Alliance Secures Electoral Upset in Prince Albert](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/elections-2026-gayton-mckenzies-pa-beats-da-in-prince-albert/) - [eNCA — Patriotic Alliance Targets Illegal Immigration in Prince Albert](https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories-videos/pa-targets-illegal-immigration-prince-albert) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._