Ramaphosa's endorsement of DA hurts ANC in local government elections

President Cyril Ramaphosa's statement at FNB Stadium in Soweto last year has had significant repercussions for the African National Congress (ANC). He said that municipalities run by the Democratic Alliance (DA) often performed better than those controlled by the ANC. Ramaphosa made the comments as a wake-up call for ANC councillors, but the impact has been damaging. The ANC's core message, that voting for the DA would be a return to apartheid, has been undermined by Ramaphosa's endorsement.

The ANC's election message for 30 years had relied on portraying the DA as racist and ineffective. However, Ramaphosa's comments gave the DA credibility and ammunition to counter ANC claims. The DA used Ramaphosa's words in their campaign, playing voice notes and displaying billboards with the slogan "Even President Ramaphosa agrees: Where the DA governs, South Africa works." This has been particularly effective in townships, where voters have been swayed by Ramaphosa's endorsement.

The Auditor-General's report for 2023/24, which showed 41 municipalities with clean audits, many of them DA-run, further supported the DA's claims. Cape Town, a DA-run metro, was the only one with a clean audit, while Johannesburg, under ANC control, was on the verge of bankruptcy. Deputy President Paul Mashatile attempted to argue that Ramaphosa was quoted out of context, but this had little impact.

Ramaphosa's statement also had a demoralizing effect on ANC councillors and members. Many felt betrayed by their president's comments, which seemed to acknowledge that the DA was more effective. Senior ANC members, including Youth League president Collen Malatji, tried to backtrack, but the damage had been done. Ramaphosa himself later attempted to clarify his comments, but the viral clip had already done its damage.

The impact of Ramaphosa's statement was evident in the recent local government elections, where turnout rose to 54.5%. Many black voters who had previously felt loyal to the ANC switched to the DA, apparently taking Ramaphosa's comments as permission to do so. In Johannesburg, the DA achieved around 35% of the vote, while the ANC managed around 21%.

The results in Cape Town were also significant, with DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis's candidate, Morero, leading with 30.6% of the vote, compared to the ANC's 15%. These results suggest that Ramaphosa's endorsement of the DA had a lasting impact on voter behavior.

Ultimately, Ramaphosa's statement may have cost the ANC dearly. By acknowledging that the DA governed more effectively, he undermined the ANC's core message and gave voters permission to switch to the DA. As a current affairs analyst, Nhlanhla Mbatha argues that this statement will be remembered as one of the most expensive in ANC history.

Key points

• Ramaphosa's endorsement of DA-run municipalities weakened ANC's message
• ANC's core story destroyed after Ramaphosa's comments
• DA used Ramaphosa's words to gain credibility and votes