Siphokazi Vuso|Published
President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected calls to review the Democratic Alliance’s role in the Government of National Unity after the party opposed the ANC’s successful court bid to reinstate 181 candidates for the November 4 municipal elections.
Speaking to journalists during the ANC’s campaign trail in Cape Town on Sunday, Ramaphosa said the national coalition remained intact despite differences between the parties, arguing that the reasons for forming the Government of National Unity (GNU) still held.
“The elections that we are now embarking upon are at local government level. The government of national unity is at national level. We got into the government of national unity for a number of reasons, and those reasons still hold,” he said.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had called for a review of the DA’s position in the GNU after the party opposed the ANC’s legal challenge over the exclusion of its candidates from the municipal elections.
The Constitutional Court last week ruled that the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) must take the necessary steps to include the 181 candidates on the ballot.
The dispute arose after the ANC failed to complete the final submission of its candidate nominations in six municipalities before the deadline. The DA opposed the ANC’s court challenge, arguing that allowing the candidates to contest the elections could undermine compliance with electoral deadlines and set a troubling precedent.
Mbalula accused the DA of seeking to disenfranchise voters by attempting to keep the ANC candidates off the ballot. Ramaphosa, however, dismissed suggestions that the dispute should affect the national coalition.
“You must remember that we are different parties with different policies, different ideologies, different histories. And we are in the main contestants. But we found a way of being able to work together. So the issue that you are raising does not arise,” he said.
Ramaphosa says voters will decide local government leadership
Ramaphosa said voters would have the final say in determining who governs at local government level.
“We move forward. We will obviously expect our people to vote on the 4th of November to determine for themselves who they want to install in local government governance. And we take our lead and our cue from what the people will have determined and decided,” he said.
Ramaphosa began his campaign trail across Cape Town before ending the day in Khayelitsha, where he joined congregants at the Salvation Church of South Africa at Mew Way Hall.
He praised the congregation for supporting the work of government and demonstrating patriotism through their service to the country. He also called on men to take a leading role in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
“As we address the issue of gender-based violence, we must all work together. The men of our country must lead the campaign against the abuse, assault and killing of women. Men must be at the forefront of this fight,” he said.
President criticises Cape Town service delivery
During his campaign, Ramaphosa also criticised the DA-led City of Cape Town over what he described as unequal service delivery between affluent areas and townships.
“Cape Town is a city of two cities really, where the better-off people live and the less better-off people live. And what we see in our townships is what really is saddening all of us because there's lack of service delivery there, housing, sanitation and all that. And when you look at the other part of the city, everything works well. So it's a tale of two cities operating and existing in one space,” he said.
Khayelitsha residents give mixed views on ANC
Residents in Khayelitsha and surrounding communities expressed mixed views about the ANC’s record and its prospects in the province.
Nosiphosakhe Mfusi, from Makhaza, urged young people in the Western Cape to support the ANC, saying its councillors worked hard for their communities.
“ANC councillor works hard for our community. I will always stand with the ANC. I encourage young people to vote for the ANC. If they do not, the Western Cape will end up under the DA’s control,” she said.
Olwethu Sifuba, from Khayelitsha, welcomed Ramaphosa’s visit but said residents in poorer communities continued to struggle with inadequate services.
“We are very happy the President has come to our community, especially in this province. We want the ANC to take back control of the province because services do not come to our areas. As people who live in shacks, our lives are hard. Services are only prioritised in the privileged areas,” Sifuba said.
However, Mntumzima Sasa, from Philippi, expressed disappointment with the ANC, saying years of voting and repeated promises had not translated into meaningful improvements in residents’ lives.
“We keep voting but we haven’t seen the change in our communities. The ANC has been in government for long but they haven’t done much to change our lives,” he said.