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Ramaphosa Admits DA Outperforms ANC Councils Ahead of 2026 Elections
A moment of honesty at FNB Stadium
When Cyril Ramaphosa stood before thousands of ANC councillors at FNB Stadium in Soweto this week, he said something rarely heard from a ruling party leader: DA-run municipalities often deliver better services than those led by the ANC. He admitted it pains him to see ANC councils “going backwards” and urged councillors to learn from cities like Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
The ANC president’s candour was striking. “It hurts me deeply when I see our municipalities sometimes going backwards. We cannot forever stay at the bottom,” he said, urging the deployment of qualified people with financial skills to end chronic underperformance.
Analysts: truth or political risk?
Political analysts quickly weighed in. Goodenough Mashego argued that Ramaphosa had finally voiced a truth he had long wanted to share but could not under party pressure. He noted that while the DA is not flawless, it delivers where it chooses to, unlike ANC councils that often fail in their own communities.
Another analyst, Solly Rashilo, was more direct, calling the remarks an “admission of failure.” He said Ramaphosa’s comments might hand the DA a powerful campaign tool heading into the 2026 local elections, portraying the ANC as incompetent and out of touch.
Councillors caught off guard
On the ground, reactions among ANC councillors in Gauteng were muted, if not embarrassed. Ward councillor Lyborn Ndou of Cosmo City responded with a disappointed emoji when asked, while David Mangena of Zandspruit said he was simply there “to get marching orders, not to debate them.”
Meanwhile, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe scolded the crowd, saying, “We have a lot of singing councillors but no councils. You all sing well, but capacity dololo.” His blunt warning drew mixed laughter and discomfort from the stadium floor.
DA seizes the moment
For the DA, Ramaphosa’s admission was a gift. Party spokesperson Willie Aucamp framed it as a public endorsement of the DA’s record. “Where we govern, we perform at the highest levels, deliver services, spend public money on the public, and eliminate corruption,” he said.
Helen Zille, who has announced plans to run for Johannesburg mayor in 2026, stands to gain from this moment. Analysts suggest Ramaphosa’s remarks may boost her campaign, given her track record in Cape Town and the perception that DA municipalities are run more efficiently.
Bigger questions ahead of 2026
The timing of Ramaphosa’s comments could not be more significant. With the 2026 local elections on the horizon, frustration over service delivery protests and corruption scandals has already damaged ANC credibility. Analysts argue that unless the party addresses systemic issues like cadre deployment and lack of accountability, Ramaphosa’s call for improvement will be seen as hollow rhetoric.
For voters, the contrast is becoming sharper. The president himself has pointed to his party’s weaknesses while acknowledging the strengths of the opposition. In the high-stakes politics of South Africa’s metros, those words may echo all the way to the ballot box.
Also read: Zambian Witchdoctors Jailed After Plot to Kill President Hichilema
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: ActionSA
