Steenhuisen: Service delivery and jobs remain DA's top priorities

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said service delivery and job creation remained among his party’s top priorities for the new year.

In a New Year’s video message, Steenhuisen said the party was also still committed to intensifying the fight against crime and corruption.

Steenhuisen’s time at the helm of the party is set to be challenged in April, when the second-largest party in the Government of National Unity (GNU) heads to its national elective conference.

Following the formation of the GNU just 18 months ago, Steenhuisen said 2026 would once again test the strength of the country’s democracy, with the expectation that local government elections would be held between November and January next year.

"Local government is where services succeed or fail. Where communities either collapse or come back to life. The DA has shown that everywhere it governs, it doesn’t have to be the way that it is."

Steenhuisen encouraged all eligible voters to check their registration details.

"The last national and provincial election showed just how much things can change when South Africans stand together. Now we can bring that change to towns and cities all across South Africa where residents suffer from failing service delivery."