Grant Pascoe
The DA has controlled the Western Cape for over a decade, but that dominance is starting to crack. Many coloured working-class voters are disillusioned. Housing backlogs, poor service delivery, and rising costs have created a growing sense that the DA governs for some, not for all. In 2026, that frustration is likely to show. The challenge comes from Gayton McKenzie and the Patriotic Alliance.
Not a Traditional Politician
Gayton doesn’t operate like a traditional politician. He is blunt, often provocative, and makes no attempt to soften his views. He speaks to people’s anger and lived experiences. That rawness connects with voters who feel unseen by the political mainstream. He doesn’t ask for acceptance. He forces attention.
Strong Stance on Illegal Foreigners
He is also one of the few political leaders who speaks openly about illegal immigration. His message is clear and firm — “Abahambe.” Illegal foreigners must go. No excuses. No spin. He argues that poor South Africans should not have to compete with people who are here unlawfully for jobs, housing or healthcare. While others avoid the issue or talk around it, Gayton speaks directly. That stance has found strong support in communities that feel overrun and ignored. It reinforces his position as a leader who says what others are too scared to say.
PA Election Results Show Taction, Not Hype
Since 2021, the PA has grown steadily. It won 75 council seats in the local elections and by 2024, secured over 300,000 votes nationally and nine seats in Parliament. In the Western Cape, the party gained nearly 8 percent of the vote and three seats in the provincial legislature. These results show traction, not hype.
PA Results Show Coloured Communities Done Waiting on DA
The PA has made inroads in towns like Mossel Bay, George and parts of Cape Town. Its growth is tied to visibility and action. The party doesn’t always follow procedure, but it responds to issues that matter. That difference is enough to shift loyalties in communities that feel neglected.
DA Slow to Adapt
The DA’s response has been slow and defensive. It still leads on paper, but its language hasn’t adapted. In areas where people face daily hardship, polished messaging and audit reports mean little. Voters want leaders who are present and effective. The Democratic Alliance risks losing ground not because it has collapsed, but because it has become distant.
PA Understands Value of Small Incremental Wins
2026 will not be a landslide election. It will be contested ward by ward. The PA doesn’t need to win everywhere. It only needs to win enough to change who governs. In hung councils, even small parties can shape power. The PA understands this and is preparing for it.
Gayton McKenzie brings disruption. He brings it with conviction, with clarity, and without apology. That disruption is no longer a sideshow. It is shifting the political map of the Western Cape.
