 In Western Cape municipal by-elections on 11 December 2008, COPE won 10 of 27 wards (with its candidates running as independents, as it was not yet registered); the ANC won only three wards, with twelve of its candidates disqualified due to missing the registration deadline.The DA won nine seats.The party was formally launched at a three-day conference from 14 to 16 December 2008, at which Lekota was named president.