Mashatile says Ramaphosa's comments commending DA-led municipalities in WC were 'quoted out of context'

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said that comments by President Cyril Ramaphosa commending the performance of Democratic Alliance (DA)-led Western Cape municipalities were taken out of context.

He said the president was merely stating the province’s clean audits and financial performance and was not referring to service delivery.

Mashatile was on Thursday responding to questions in the National Assembly on service delivery and issues affecting local government.

President Cyril Ramaphosa in September, speaking as African National Congress (ANC) president, told the party’s councillors that DA-led municipalities outperformed the ones led by the ANC.

On Thursday, Mashatile became the latest ANC leader to try to downplay his comments.

He said that Ramaphosa didn’t say that the DA had the best delivery record but told ANC councillors that they could learn a thing or two from DA municipalities.

"The president was quoted out of context and let me tell you why. When the president addressed our councillors, his first emphasis was that councillors should learn from one another."

He said that at no point did he heap praise on the DA, and he was focusing on clean audits.

"He was not saying the Western Cape knows it all."

Mashatile said the best governance model for municipalities should benefit all communities and not only those in the suburbs, like in the Western Cape.

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