The Swellendam Local Municipality council consists of eleven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the Democratic Alliance (DA) retained its majority of six seats on the council.
[1] In terms of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and the judgment of the Constitutional Court in United Democratic Movement v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others, in the period from 8–22 October 2002 councillors had the opportunity to cross the floor to a different political party without losing their seats.
[3] In a by-election in ward 2, held on 22 March 2023 after the previous DA councillor was expelled, the ANC narrowly won the seat.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) increased its share from less than 1% in 2021 to 31%, finishing second, and taking votes from both the DA (49% to 30%) and ANC (48% to 37%).