Julius Malema’s EFF loses voting control of Robben Island

ActionSA has pulled off an unexpected electoral victory on Robben Island, delivering one of the more unusual political results of South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections.

The party emerged as the biggest vote-getter in the island’s voting district, securing 11 of the 48 ballots cast and beating the ANC, EFF, DA and MK Party.

READ | ANC heading for WORST-ever election result as votes trickle in

Complete surprise

About 150 people live on Robben Island, primarily Robben Island museum staff and guides, lighthouse keepers, and employees of the National Port Authority.

The result is particularly noteworthy given Robben Island’s political history and ActionSA’s limited campaigning in the area.

ActionSA’s Cape Town mayoral candidate, Dereleen James, said the outcome came as a complete surprise.

According to James, the party’s ward candidate made just one visit to Robben Island during the election campaign.

“The fact that we weren’t really there, we didn’t campaign there, we literally did a quick pop in and out, to get that outcome, that speaks volumes,” James said.

Robben Island changes its political allegiance

The result represents a shift from the island’s previous voting patterns.

In the 2021 Local Government Elections, the EFF received the majority of votes on Robben Island, while the ANC was the leading party in 2016.

Five years later, ActionSA has emerged top of the polls, suggesting a different political preference among the small electorate.

The final voting breakdown on the island was:

• ActionSA: 11 votes
• ANC: 9 votes
• EFF: 5 votes
• MK Party: 5 votes
• DA: 4 votes
• Patriotic Alliance: 4 votes
• African Transformation Movement: 3 votes
• FF Plus: 2 votes
• United Democratic Front: 2 votes
• SACP: 1 vote
• IFP: 1 vote
• Al Jama-ah: 1 vote

ActionSA’s victory does not, however, translate into a council seat.

The Robben Island voting district forms part of the greater Atlantic Seaboard Ward 54, which also includes Green Point, Sea Point, Clifton, Camps Bay and Fresnaye.

It was the only district that the DA didn’t finish in first place. As at the time of publishing, the DA had 87.7% of Ward 54 votes tallied.