Key Takeaways
- DA insiders accuse the party of imposing former ANC members as ward councillors despite community opposition, using the threat of the MK party as leverage.
- Critics argue the DA’s tactics mirror the ANC’s “bully‑and‑pressure” approach, undermining its claim to serve the people.
- Water service failures and perceived election‑time opportunism fuel accusations of hypocrisy among DA members.
- The re‑adoption of poorly performing former ANC councillor Bongani Ngubane is highlighted as a concrete example of the party’s questionable candidate selection.
- Provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema frames the influx of former ANC members as a “political earthquake,” asserting that the DA is the viable alternative to a failed ANC and MK.
- With the November 4 local‑government election looming, the DA faces a two‑horse contest against MK in KwaZulu‑Natal, while Ipsos polling suggests a continued ANC‑DA coalition may emerge, drawing internal dissent.
Growing Frustration Among DA Insiders
A wave of discontent is surfacing inside the Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini, where party members claim the leadership is overriding grassroots wishes by installing former African National Congress (ANC) figures as ward councillors. Insiders told IOL that the DA is “using the threat of MK as justification to override what communities actually want,” citing instances where an unwanted ANC‑aligned candidate was imposed in a ward despite clear local opposition. The sentiment is that the party’s top‑down decisions betray its professed commitment to community‑driven governance, prompting accusations that the DA is behaving no differently from the ANC it seeks to replace.
Criticism of DA’s Use of MK Threat as Leverage
One irate insider argued that the DA’s strategy of invoking the MK party as a bogeyman amounts to political coercion: “By using the threat of a worse alternative as leverage, the DA is behaving no differently from the ANC.” The critique centres on the perception that the DA is leveraging fear of MK victory to legitimise candidate selections that lack popular support, effectively silencing dissent within the ranks. This approach, the insider warned, erodes internal democracy and risks alienating the very voters the DA hopes to attract in the forthcoming elections.
Accusations of Hypocrisy and Selective Prioritization
Another DA member highlighted a stark contrast between the party’s campaign rhetoric and its on‑the‑ground actions, especially regarding basic services. “Why now? Why is the DA making water a priority now? There are communities that have been without water for years, and no DA member has visited them or taken up their cause,” the member said, expressing frustration that the party only appears to champion issues when electioneering begins. The comment culminated in a blunt assessment: “I’m gatvol of their hypocrisy.” Notably, all speakers requested anonymity, fearing reprisals from party leadership for voicing these criticisms.
Case Study: Reintegration of Former ANC Councillor Bongani Ngubane
The controversy over candidate selection is exemplified by the DA’s decision to field former ANC councillor Bongani Ngubane in Ward 16. An insider described Ngubane as an “absolute failure,” noting he finished 126th out of 134 candidates in a previous PR contest—rendering him, in their view, unelectable. Despite having spent five years campaigning to remove Ngubane from office, the DA reportedly rehabilitated him and installed him as the official ward candidate, sparking community anger. The insider lamented that the party is “signing up former ANC supporters… but we don’t need the same incompetent ANC councillors in the DA,” suggesting that such moves undermine the DA’s promise of better governance.
DA Leadership’s Positive Spin on ANC Defections
In stark contrast to the internal criticism, DA provincial leader Sithembiso Ngema celebrated the influx of former ANC members as a sign of growing strength. He announced that more than 8,500 new members had joined the party since the start of their campaign, the majority coming from the ANC, which he labelled “not a trickle… a political earthquake.” Ngema framed this shift as proof that residents have rejected the ANC’s failures in eThekwini and view the DA as a functional alternative. He insisted that the party’s rapid expansion demonstrates that “the people have decided: enough is enough,” positioning the DA as the legitimate heir to municipal authority.
Electoral Context and Coalition Dynamics
With the November 4 deadline for local‑government elections approaching, parties are intensifying ground campaigns. In KwaZulu‑Natal, the contest is widely seen as a two‑horse race between the DA and the MK party, while behind‑the‑scenes negotiations loom large. The DA is attempting to keep MK from gaining a foothold, whereas MK—predicted to sweep the province and seize control of eThekwini Municipality—is exploring potential alliances with other parties. Ipsos poll projections indicate that coalition politics will likely dominate most metros, with the ANC and DA expected to continue their GNU partnership. This prospect has drawn criticism from some DA members, who quip that the party “slams the ANC in their campaigning, then brings them back through the back door with coalition arrangements,” highlighting a tension between electoral pragmatism and ideological purity.