President Cyril Ramaphosa told thousands of ANC councillors at FNB Stadium that it’s “painful” to admit some of South Africa’s best-run municipalities are governed by the DA. He suggested that Ramaphosa DA municipalities offer lessons to learn from for improving governance.
Consequently, he urged councillors to study what Cape Town and Stellenbosch are doing right. They need to fix weak finances and audits in ANC-run councils.
What He Pointed To
For example, Ramaphosa said the ANC must “move up the ladder” and learn from better performers like Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Moreover, he backed tougher basics: cleaner books, tighter compliance, and mandatory training with a minimum matric for councillors. This push highlights a need to emulate successful governance models that are present in some Ramaphosa DA municipalities.
Pushback from Allies and Rivals
However, Cosatu slammed the praise, calling the examples “unfortunate”. The federation’s first deputy president, Mike Shingange, argued DA-run metros serve a minority. Additionally, comparing poorer ANC municipalities to wealthier Western Cape councils is unfair, he said.
Similarly, the GOOD party noted that DA municipalities may post cleaner audits but remain “better run for some.” They cited deep inequality and services missing poor communities. Thus, they challenged the idea that clean audits equal good governance for all residents, particularly when considering Ramaphosa DA municipalities.
Why it Matters Ahead of 2026
As the ANC prepares for the 2026 local polls, Ramaphosa’s remarks signal a sharper accountability drive. The backlash, meanwhile, fuels debate over what “well-run” means for ordinary households. For instance, the comparisons with Ramaphosa DA municipalities highlight the need for better service delivery across all councils.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, Ramaphosa DA municipalities praise sets a new tone: learn from what works, fix what fails, and deliver. Yet, the backlash shows the real test isn’t audit scores—it’s whether streets are safer, taps run, and budgets serve everyone.
