DA targets ANC losses as it eyes metro gains in 2026 local elections

By Akani Nkuna

The Democratic Alliance (DA) will launch its 2026 Local Government Elections manifesto on 8 August, with national campaign manager Ashor Sarupen saying the party aims to capitalise on the ANC’s declining support to secure control of more municipalities, particularly metropolitan councils.

Speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday alongside deputy national campaign manager Werner Horn, Sarupen said the DA’s long-term goal remained to become South Africa’s largest political party by 2029.

“It is no secret that the DA seeks to win local authorities away from the ANC and, by 2029, to overtake the ANC and become South Africa’s largest party,” he said.

“We are encouraged to see growing support for the DA and the consistent decline in ANC support.”

Sarupen said the party’s internal modelling showed the ANC was on course to lose about 500 council seats in the November local government elections, opening