DA leader Steenhuisen has issued a strong message to voters in unstable municipalities, urging them to avoid casting votes for smaller parties in next year’s local government elections. Speaking in Gqeberha on Monday, Steenhuisen highlighted the negative impact that coalition politics and fragmented governance have had on service delivery in metros like Nelson Mandela Bay.
He emphasized that only a party with an outright majority can bring about meaningful and lasting change, citing the Democratic Alliance’s past successes in various municipalities as proof.
“Voters must understand that giving power to small, untested parties only prolongs the suffering of communities,” said DA leader Steenhuisen.
During his visit to Gqeberha, John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, officially announced Retief Odendaal as the party’s mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay. Odendaal, a familiar figure in local politics, has previously served in the metro and is widely seen as a capable leader with a track record of good governance.
Steenhuisen used the occasion to rally support for the DA’s bid to regain full control of the metro, arguing that divided councils have led to instability, corruption, and the collapse of basic services.
“We’ve seen what happens when no party has a majority — constant infighting, service delivery failures, and no accountability,” said DA leader Steenhuisen.
DA Leader Steenhuisen Criticizes Emerging Political Movements
In a swipe at new political movements, Steenhuisen mocked the recent merger between Rise Mzansi, the Good Party, and Build One South Africa (BOSA), which have united under the banner Unite for Change to contest the 2026 local elections.
“People come along and form other parties like Rise Mzansi. Well, they didn’t rise in the last election. It’s like my soufflé — it never rises,” Steenhuisen joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
He went on to question the impact these smaller parties have had in communities, suggesting that they have delivered little more than promises.
“Did they put a single tap on? Did they put a single kilowatt of electricity in your home? No. But thousands of our people voted for them,” he added.
DA leader Steenhuisen was particularly critical of the current state of service delivery in metros governed by unstable coalitions. In Nelson Mandela Bay, residents have faced rolling blackouts, unreliable water supply, deteriorating infrastructure, and governance scandals — issues that Steenhuisen blames on the lack of a strong, single governing party.
“You can’t run a city on compromise and chaos,” Steenhuisen argued. “You need clear mandates, strong leadership, and accountable governance.”
The DA has previously governed Nelson Mandela Bay with success, according to Steenhuisen, and the party believes it can restore stability if given a clear majority in the upcoming election.
Beyond Nelson Mandela Bay, Steenhuisen’s comments reflect a broader concern about South Africa’s local governance landscape. Many municipalities across the country have fallen into disrepair due to unstable coalitions and mismanagement.
In recent years, several metros — including Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni — have experienced frequent leadership changes, disrupted council meetings, and collapsed service delivery systems.
DA leader Steenhuisen believes that unless voters consolidate their support behind larger, proven parties, this instability will only continue.
“Our country doesn’t need more political experiments. It needs working solutions, tested leadership, and real results,” Steenhuisen told supporters.
As the local government elections approach, DA leader Steenhuisen is clearly positioning the Democratic Alliance as the only viable choice for voters who want change that is both meaningful and sustainable.
He urged communities to resist the temptation to vote for “flashy” new movements or protest parties, which may have good intentions but lack the structures, experience, or political will to govern effectively.
“If you want stability, if you want your city back on track — then give one party, the DA, a clear majority,” Steenhuisen concluded.
With his bold remarks and call for political unity, DA leader Steenhuisen has drawn a clear line in the sand ahead of the 2026 local government elections. By highlighting the failures of coalition politics and the risks of voting for smaller parties, he aims to convince South Africans that the Democratic Alliance offers the most practical path forward for struggling metros like Nelson Mandela Bay.
As political dynamics continue to shift, Steenhuisen’s message of stability, service delivery, and proven leadership is expected to remain a core theme in the DA’s campaign strategy.
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Source- EWN
