Four senior ANC leaders defect to DA in Western Cape

By Simon Nare

Four senior ANC officials have crossed the floor to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in what the blue party has described as a significant political realignment ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The defectors include former ANC provincial secretary Nevile Delport, regional executive member Jason Donn, and ward councillors Daniel Baadjies (Bonnievale) and Paul Strauss (Cederburg).

Their move to the DA was officially announced on Wednesday in the Western Cape.

Their defections come just weeks after the ANC disbanded its Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).

DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille hailed the move as a milestone, saying it signalled a broader shift in South African politics.

“This mirrors the swing in support by voters who continue to abandon the ANC for the DA. It’s part of the ongoing realignment of politics in South Africa,” said Zille.

She added that ANC support in the Western Cape