Did Ramaphosa Hand South Africa to the DA on a Silver Platter?

When President Cyril Ramaphosa stood before more than 4,000 ANC councillors in Johannesburg this week, he might not have expected the political firestorm that followed. In a speech that was both frank and controversial, he urged ANC councillors to take lessons from their DA counterparts on how to run municipalities.

For some, it was a refreshing moment of honesty. For others, it was a betrayal that could signal the ANC’s own undoing.

A bold admission, or a fatal slip?

Political analyst Prof Lesiba Teffo believes Ramaphosa deserves credit for saying aloud what many South Africans already think. “We need to celebrate Ramaphosa for having the courage of his own convictions,” Teffo argued. “He knew he’d be vilified, but better late than never.”

Municipal service delivery under ANC control has long been a sore point. From overflowing sewage in towns like Emfuleni to pothole-riddled roads in rural provinces, many communities have lost faith that the ruling party can manage basic governance. By contrast, DA-led municipalities such as Cape Town and Midvaal often market themselves as cleaner, more efficient, and more financially disciplined.

“The ANC is done”

But not everyone sees Ramaphosa’s statement as noble. Xolani Dube, political analyst at the Xubera Institute, says the president has effectively surrendered. “They’ve mobilised South Africans to vote for the DA. They’ve handed South African natives back to white rule. The ANC is done, it’s time to move on,” Dube said bluntly.

His critique taps into a deeper wound in South African politics: the struggle between acknowledging good governance, no matter who delivers it, and the fear that such acknowledgments weaken the ANC’s liberation credentials.

What South Africans are saying

On social media, the reactions have been just as divided as the analysts.

• Supporters of Ramaphosa argue that the president is finally putting citizens before party politics, and that emulating the DA’s efficiency is common sense. “If the ANC can’t learn from its competition, then it’s choosing failure,” one X (Twitter) user posted.

• Critics, however, see betrayal. “This is proof that the ANC has lost direction. If we must look to the DA, then what’s the point of the ANC existing?” another user wrote.

WhatsApp groups and community forums have been abuzz, with many ordinary South Africans expressing frustration that it’s taken this long for the ANC leadership to admit to systemic failures at municipal level.

A wider context: survival or strategy?

Ramaphosa’s remarks come at a fragile time. The ANC’s majority is shrinking, coalition governments are becoming the norm, and the DA has already gained ground in metros like Johannesburg and Tshwane. Some analysts argue that Ramaphosa is preparing the ANC for a future where cooperation, not dominance, defines governance.

But others suggest the president is simply out of options. Service delivery protests have surged in recent years, especially in smaller municipalities, where residents often live without reliable water, electricity, or waste collection. Calling for lessons from the DA may be less about humility and more about desperation.

Was Ramaphosa’s comment a statesmanlike call for better governance, or an accidental admission that the ANC can no longer govern effectively?

The answer may depend on where you stand. To some, it’s a sign of political maturity to acknowledge that the opposition does certain things better. To others, it’s proof that the ANC’s best days are behind it.

One thing is certain: South Africa is entering a new era of politics where party loyalty may matter less than who can actually deliver electricity, water, and jobs.

And in that sense, Ramaphosa’s silver platter might not belong to the DA or the ANC, but to the South African voter.

{Source: The Citizen}

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