The Democratic Alliance (DA) has pledged to continue its efforts to stabilize the City of Tshwane amidst political turmoil caused by what it describes as an alliance between the ANC, ActionSA, and the EFF. The party announced it will field Cilliers Brink as its mayoral candidate in a bid to restore governance in the capital.
DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, Solly Msimanga, criticized the removal of Brink from the mayoral position, calling it a reckless political move. He accused ActionSA of aiding the ANC and benefiting the EFF in their quest to unseat the DA-led government. “We will not abandon the residents of Tshwane to the chaos caused by the ANC, enabled by ActionSA,” Msimanga said in a statement.
Msimanga’s comments follow remarks made by ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba, who claimed during media interviews that a deal had been struck with the ANC to make Nasiphi Moya the new mayor. However, this was later denied by the ANC, with Msimanga accusing Mashaba of being “duped” into collapsing a working coalition government.
The DA attempted to negotiate with the ANC leadership to withdraw the motion of no confidence against Brink, proposing that the city’s future be discussed under conditions of stability. However, the motion went ahead, with Msimanga blaming the ANC’s National Working Committee for strengthening the EFF’s negotiating position and acting in bad faith towards the DA.
According to Msimanga, the constant changing of mayors without regard for policy stability is a key factor in Tshwane’s deteriorating service delivery. He warned that the political instability would have serious financial repercussions, citing concerns over the city’s R800 million overdraft facility application with ABSA.
The DA leader also criticized the ANC for its past actions, including placing Tshwane under provincial administration in 2020, which he said caused financial devastation. He further condemned the role of ActionSA in enabling the ANC to create political chaos, accusing them of neglecting cooperation at a time when the city’s financial recovery is still fragile.
Despite the upheaval, Msimanga vowed that the DA would continue to fight for Tshwane residents, even from the opposition if necessary. He outlined several priorities, including protecting senior non-political managers from being replaced by political appointees, ensuring the disciplinary process against five officials implicated in the Rooiwal water scandal proceeds, and safeguarding projects to provide clean water to Hammanskraal.
“We had hoped to fulfil this function from inside government, but we are just as ready to serve Tshwane residents outside of government,” Msimanga concluded.