Power in key local municipalities and some metros seems to be slipping away from the DA as the ANC works with other parties to wrestle away power, threatening the stability of the GNU.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) finds itself on the back foot when it comes to some of the key regional and provincial spheres of government following some sneak manoeuvres from the ANC in the company of the Freedom Front Plus.
The signing of three crucial pieces of legislation in quick succession has been seen as key drivers of some of the fiercest cracks between the DA and the ANC following the establishment of the much-maligned GNU.
This past week, things almost came to a head when DA leader John Steenhuisen threatened to quit GNU following the signing into law of the Land Expropriation Act on the back of the NHI and BELA Act towards the end of 2024.
While this was happening, the ANC, working with ActionSA and other parties, successfully removed Cilliers Brink as Tshwane Mayor.
Brink’s ousting has brought on a new hope for the people of Tshwane under the leadership of the new mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, credited with some of the positive sentiments in the administrative capital city.
All three bills aim to protect South Africa’s black population and limit the power of the neo-colonisers who still use land, resources and cheap labour to their advantage.
The ruling ANC party, represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his confidants, is now firmly pushing through legislation to protect the black population. In defiance of DA opposition.
This past weekend, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula indicated that if the DA no longer wants to be part of the GNU, it has a choice to leave.
“People lament about the GNU and I do not know what the lamentation is about now. We do not know what the DA wants because the ANC transformation is our agenda.
“We need to understand that we did not have an agreement that all the Bills that were passed by the 6th administration will come to a halt. If such a matter had arisen , we would have been very clear with the DA in that we do not agree. We can’t use the GNU for bills that have been passed to halt progress. If this was a deal breaker, it should have happened then,” he stated.
On the weekend during the legotla, Mbalula was clear that the DA should leave the GNU if it does not like decisions taken by the President or DA ministers do not agree to implement them.
In addition to the GNU squabbles nationally, sweeping changes have been happening in local government where the DA now finds itself being squeezed out of power in some local municipalities and metros.
Mayors, and mid-level leaders of the DA party are being removed from their posts, removed from their positions because the ANC has been able to paint the DA as a party that is anti-poor and anti transformation.
The most striking example is in Gauteng province, where, following the ousting of DA mayor Cilliers Brink from Tshwane, power returned fully to the ANC. And residents organised a People’s March to celebrate this, endorsing the victory of the ruling party.
This trend is now evident in all key provinces of South Africa including the most recent one where a DA councillor, Francois du Rand was removed as mayor of Swellendam in a vote of no confidence (Western Cape province).
This motion was put forward by the African National Congress and was supported by the FF Plus party. FF Plus also recently voted with the ANC to remove DA mayors in Cape Agulhas, Oudtshoorn and Theewaterskloof.
The ANC structures in the Western Cape were expected to come up with programmes of their own aimed at reconnecting with communities and fending off any possible takeover by the DA and its continued dominance.
“The ANC in the Western Cape is focused on addressing systemic inequality while improving value for money, accountability and service delivery for everyone, regardless of background. Everyone should feel their local leaders represent them, not a privileged few. We also wish to restore dignity to marginalized communities,” said Khalid Sayed, ANC Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.
He called out the DA accusing it of simply ignoring racialised inequalities.
“The underdevelopment of black townships is a direct legacy of apartheid spatial planning, which the DA-led provincial government has perpetuated through unequal resource allocation. Instead of addressing this inequality, the DA’s focus has been on affluent areas,” said Sayed.
Similar losses have been seen in the Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality where the DA took control of the metro.
Cosatu’s provincial secretary in KZN, Edwin Mkhize, said the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by the ANC has completely shut workers out of governance.
“The ANC will not serve the previously disadvantaged if it continues to be in alliance with parties such as the DA. That is why we are taking to the streets to voice our dissatisfaction with the current government,” said Mkhize.
“As workers, we feel like our voices have been silenced. We cannot allow this to continue any longer,” he said.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa hit back at the DA.
“But there is a particular political party in the GNU saying it’s a wasteful expenditure to assist traditional leaders. It says the land should not be given to tribal authorities. What are we as traditional leaders going to do about this party in the GNU?” said Contralesa President Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena.
