PRETORIA - Students will, as always, have a great impact on the voter outcomes of the City of Tshwane.
In municipalities with universities and colleges, students tend to boost one particular party over the other, giving them a needed push.
READ: eNCA MarkData | Joburg's inner city emerges as key election battleground
According to eNCA MarkData poll results, students came in their numbers to vote in the Metro in 2024, assisting the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to beat the DA in Ward 92 in the municipality.
The ANC will have to work hard to convince Soshanguve voters to come out in their numbers if they want to maintain their stronghold.
According to eNCA's MarkData results, the party got 67% of the vote in Soshanguve South. This is despite on 38% of the voters showing up to cast their ballots. They dipped slightly in 2024 to 64%.
READ: eNCA MarkData Election Survey | Here's what the results mean
In 2021 the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) came in second in the same ward, with 20% of the votes and the Democratic Alliance (DA) only getting 5% of the votes.
In 2024, the EFF went down to 17% while the DA grew by 8% in the Soshanguve south.
eNCA elections analyst Wayne Sussman said if the DA wants to make their mark in the ward, they need to exceed the 10% mark. Meanwhile the ANC would need to exceed 70% if they want to be the largest party in the Metro.
The research shows that Tshwane, similar to Johannesburg, will also not have an outright majority in its council. And similarly will go into a coalition government.