By Simon Nare
A DA-sponsored motion of no confidence in Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was defeated in the provincial legislature after opposition parties closed ranks around him, dismissing the motion as frivolous, opportunistic, and without substance.
In an open vote, the DA secured only two additional votes from smaller parties, with the motion falling 54–24.
The result sparked thunderous applause from ANC members, who broke into song and mocked DA legislature leader Solly Msimanga.
Although smaller parties argued during the debate that Lesufi was neither an ideal nor a perfect premier and expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, they described the DA’s motion as political opportunism intended to destabilise the province.
Some pointed out that the DA is part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), making it disingenuous for the party to reject the leadership of its own national coalition partner in Gauteng.
Others called the move vengeful, noting that Lesufi had excluded the DA from the provincial executive.
Msimanga, who tabled the motion, attempted unsuccessfully to win over the EFF and ActionSA by highlighting what he called Lesufi’s failures, many of which the two parties had publicly criticised.
“The DA has not been the only voice criticising Lesufi for shielding corrupt officials by withholding lifestyle audit reports that should expose misconduct among senior managers, thereby obstructing transparency and accountability,” Msimanga argued.
“Political parties such as ActionSA have highlighted rampant corruption in provincial departments, detailing the challenges service providers face due to corrupt procurement and contract mismanagement. They have called for presidential intervention, labelling Lesufi’s government as corrupt.”
But ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni refused to back the motion, saying it was ill-timed and mathematically doomed, effectively granting Lesufi and the ANC an “undeserved victory”.
He labelled the motion “politically illiterate”, adding that while ActionSA agreed with the DA’s critique of ANC governance, it could not support a motion that was “hypocritical”.
“The DA has a problem. They voted for Premier Lesufi. Now they seek to recruit us into a motion crafted to suit their own political disappointment. This motion is not driven by principle; it is driven by inconsistency, opportunism, and a desire to rewrite their role in the Premier’s office,” he said.
Similarly, the EFF’s Molebogeng Masoleng said the outcome vindicated the party’s warnings about the national “marriage” between the ANC and DA, cautioning that Gauteng residents “should not allow themselves to be fooled”.
Masoleng noted that despite the DA not being part of the Provincial Government of Unity (PGU), it voted for Lesufi in June “to spite the EFF”, which had fielded its own candidate.
“The people of Gauteng will not be fooled. The unholy alliance between the liberals and the ANC is coming apart. We must ask ourselves: why is this unholy alliance failing? It is because, in the face of great challenges at almost every level in the province, the ANC continues to lull our people with quick-fix solutions,” he said.
Masoleng added that provincial ANC programmes were designed to benefit private interests rather than the masses.
However, despite the EFF’s strong opposition to both Lesufi and the ANC, the red berets made it clear they would not vote with the DA.
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