Steenhuisen: DA to spare no resources for upcoming local govt elections

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said the party will spare no resources in its election campaign to win over voters ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

The municipal elections are expected to take place in November or before the end of the January 2027 deadline.

They are tipped to be among the toughest elections in the country’s democratic history, with a bigger number of political parties vying for a shrinking voter base.

Steenhuisen said the DA wants to surpass its showing at the 2024 general elections.

"Well, obviously we've got to make sure that we win in more places in November in the local government elections," he said. "And I think that many South Africans have seen through the work of the GNU just what we're capable of when we are given a chance to lead and to get into position of government".

RELATED: Steenhuisen turns his attention to upcoming polls after fallout with Dion George

Steenhuisen said with a lot at stake, party discipline will be crucial at this time.

"People feel local government level, they live in local government level, they experience local government level and they hear local government level. So that is why it's so important we get into power there and start to change the lives of people because that's going to give us a springboard. But the DA must also make sure that it doesn't descend into internal bickering and internal chaos because that's the worst signal you can send out to voters."

NO ROOM FOR POOR PERFORMERS

Steenhuisen said there's no room for coddling poor performers in the party in what appears to be an attempt to respond to naysers over a recent internal party dispute.

His comments come after a public fallout with his former cabinet ally Dion George.

While Steenhuisen has been gagged by the party’s Federal Executive from talking about the internal disciplinary process currently underway, he has hinted about some tough decisions he’s taken as party leader.

"It was from determined steps of leadership to place people into positions so that they can perform well. And when they don't perform, you need to remove them because if you are leading, you are having to promote and praise those who are performing. But you also then need to be able to have the guts and courage to remove those who are not performing and who are not acting in the best interest of the party and who are holding us back from achieving our mission. And we’ve seen the situation play out in recent time and that's an example of it.”