In the build-up to the municipal elections violent service-delivery protests erupted in the Midvaal municipality - but that did not stop the DA from retaining power there and the party's youngest mayor, Bongani Baloyi, retaining the top spot on the council. Baloyi joined the DA in Midvaal 2009 and became mayor of Midrand in 2013."We are excited about the outcome, but it is what we projected," said Baloyi.He said the municipality had improved service delivery and financial management under his leadership."The win shows that there is an increase in trust in the DA and in the party leadership here. "We have delivered in this municipality, focusing on areas in which there was no service delivery, and on stabilising water provision and formalising settlements," he said.Baloyi said the protests in the months before the elections were orchestrated by "outside influences"."It wasn't a protest based on key service delivery issues but we are the first to admit that we have our issues."Had the protests not happened I believe we could have won with a bigger majority." The highly contested municipality was at the centre of a two-year legal wrangle between the DA and the Municipal Demarcation Board, which had approved a merger of Midvaal with Emfuleni. The ANC was accused of gerrymandering.The High Court set aside the board's decision in September."One of the promises we made to the community was that we will fight the demarcation board and stop them from forcing a merger of the two municipalities."We knew that the ANC would lose [the election in Midvaal and so it] attempted to take power by amalgamating the two municipalities," said Baloyi...