The Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid out an ambitious vision to govern Gauteng’s key metros, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, positioning service delivery, infrastructure investment and coalition reform at the centre of its campaign ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
Speaking at the party’s federal congress over the weekend, senior leaders framed the elections as a decisive moment for the country’s urban future, arguing that the DA’s governance model offers a clear alternative to what they described as failing ANC-led municipalities.
Newly elected third Deputy Federal Chairperson and Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi set the tone by linking the party’s broader vision of “freedom with responsibility” to the lived realities in struggling metros.
“Unemployment, poverty, crime, and corruption are the lived realities of millions of South Africans. These are the consequences of betraying our country’s hard-won freedom,” Malatsi said.
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ALSO READ: Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis elected DA leader
City of Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis was elected the new Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) at the party’s congress in Johannesburg on Sunday, marking a generational shift.
Hill-Lewis secured victory in a closely watched contest against Sedibeng leader Sibusiso Dyonase, as delegates concluded voting on the second day of the congress.
In his first remarks after being elected, Hill-Lewis struck a conciliatory tone, praising his opponent and signalling unity within the party.
“I want to start by honouring my fellow candidate, Sibusiso, this is a rising star in the DA. There should be absolutely no hard feelings between contestants against each other in our party. We want the best for one another. I want you to succeed, brother,” he said.
The election ushers in a new top leadership collective within the DA.
ALSO READ: ANC opens candidate lists to non-members in mayoral selection overhaul
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the party will now allow non-card-carrying members to stand as its candidates in the upcoming local government elections, marking a break from its traditional approach to candidate selection.
Speaking to journalists ahead of a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Friday, Mbalula said the party would accept candidates who are not formal members, provided they have strong community backing.
He said the ANC already has councillors serving under its banner who are not card-carrying members, having been nominated through community processes.
The shift forms part of a broader overhaul of the party’s candidate selection system, which introduces a centralised, competency-based approach to identifying and deploying leadership in key municipalities.
The party has also launched its mayoral candidate selection process, mainly targeting the eight metropolitan municipalities in South Africa and the 22 secondary cities considered critical to economic activity, infrastructure development and service delivery.
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