The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini is facing internal revolt over its decision to impose former African National Congress (ANC) councillors as ward candidates ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Party insiders have expressed outrage, accusing the DA of overriding community preferences and using the threat of a worse alternative as leverage. They claim that the party is behaving no differently from the ANC, which they accuse of bullying and pressuring communities into accepting decisions made on their behalf.
The criticism comes after the DA welcomed former ANC councillor Bongani Ngubane into its fold, despite his poor performance in previous elections. According to one DA insider, Ngubane came 126th out of 134 candidates, making him unelectable as a proportional representation councillor. However, the DA went ahead and made him the official candidate for Ward 16, sparking community anger. The insider claimed that they had spent five years fighting to remove Ngubane, only for the DA to rehabilitate him.
DA provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema has defended the party's decision to welcome former ANC members, praising them for joining the party. Ngema claimed that the DA has welcomed over 8,500 new members since the start of its campaign last year, with the majority coming from the ANC. He described this as a "political earthquake," indicating that the DA in eThekwini is growing rapidly and that people have lost faith in the ANC.
The local government elections are scheduled for November, with the DA and the MK party expected to engage in a two-horse contest in KwaZulu-Natal. Behind the scenes, political horse-trading is underway, with the DA trying to keep MK out of power. The latest Ipsos poll projections suggest that coalition politics will continue to shape most metros, with the ANC and DA likely to continue their coalition arrangement.
However, not everyone in the DA is comfortable with this arrangement. One DA member quipped that the party slams the ANC during campaigning but then brings them back through the back door with coalition arrangements. This sentiment is echoed by some party insiders who are critical of the DA's decision to impose former ANC councillors as ward candidates.
The DA has recently faced criticism for its campaign tactics, including a billboard that referred to the "water tanker mafia." eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba and senior city officials demanded that the DA retract the billboard and apologize within 24 hours. The DA has also dropped more than half of its sitting eThekwini councillors as ward candidates for the November elections, prompting complaints over a lack of reasons.
As the election deadline approaches, the DA is working to finalize its candidate list and campaign strategy. Despite internal revolt and criticism, the party remains determined to win the elections and form a new government in eThekwini. The outcome of the elections and the subsequent coalition arrangements will have significant implications for the municipality and its residents.
Key points
- The DA has welcomed over 8,500 new members since the start of its campaign last year, with the majority coming from the ANC.
- The party's decision to impose former ANC councillors as ward candidates has sparked internal revolt and criticism.
- The DA and MK party are expected to engage in a two-horse contest in KwaZulu-Natal during the upcoming local government elections.
