South Africa

Yesterday’s election of Helen Zille looked like a real cliffhanger. The DA candidate narrowly beat out incumbent mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo by taking 106 votes to Mfeketo's 103 in what was a hotly contested vote. In a surprise move the DA managed to forge an unlikely coalition of partners – the ACDP, Africa Muslim Party, United Independent Front, UDM, FF+ and Universal Party – thus turning the tables on the ANC/ID coalition and sweeping to victory.

Jacob Derek Smit of the FF+ was elected as Speaker and the ACDP's Andrew Arnolds took the No.2 spot of deputy mayor.

Laughably, after the conclusion of the election the ID’s Patricia De Lille stated "The reason we supported the ANC on the mayoral vote was based on our (shared) anti-racism and pro-poor principles." This of course followed her statement to the Financial Mail a while back that the ID would “under no circumstances" support the ANC’s Mfeketo for mayor.

Update - The DA has pulled the same manoeuvre in Stellenbosch and Patricia De Lille has copious amounts of egg on her face!