Never mind SA, DA needs to be rescued?
When John Steenhuisen was re-elected as DA leader in April 2023, he revealed his plans in his acceptance speech.
“South Africans are now looking to us to step up and lead an alternative government. We are knocking on the doors of the Union Buildings.”
And by right, given South Africa's current crisis on many fronts, the DA should be knocking on the door of the federal building this election.
But in recent months, Mr Steenhuisen has come to regret his comments, as various opinion polls have shown that not only is the ANC likely to lose support, but support for the DA is also declining. Maybe. This is also reflected in several by-elections.
The results of past national elections are also telling. The DA's vote share in 2019 was 20.77%, down from 22.23% in 2014. In 2009, the vote share was 16%.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, the DA's internal polls consistently show the party's national support rating is around the mid-20s, contradicting external polls.
But recently, it became clear that unrest had crept into Democratic Party headquarters when Mr Steenhuisen began slamming smaller parties campaigning in the Western Cape.
As one analyst pointed out, this was not a liberal move for a liberal party.
But recent polls may offer clues about Mr. Steenhuisen's uprising. The DA is at risk of losing its majority in the Western Cape. This is a state with a clear track record of good governance.
As the fire over Steenhuisen's comments cooled, the DA's office decided to light another fire, issuing a controversial flag-burning ad and arming the president.
While some have welcomed the ad, others have questioned why the party chose to resort to fear-mongering tactics.
This Friday Briefing will consider whether the DA itself needs to be rescued, the tagline being 'Rescuing the SA'.
There are contributions from News24's Deputy Politics and Opinion Editor Natasha Marian, News24's Senior Parliamentary Correspondent Jason Felix, Analyst Daniel Silke and News24's In-depth Writer Mohammad Hussein.
Please read it.
The best,
Vanessa Bunton
Opinion editor.
Provincial Attorney’s Office tightrope in Western Cape election showdown
More than a decade ago, the DA pulled off the miraculous feat of ousting the ANC from power in the Western Cape. It is the first political party in democratic South Africa to do so.With less than three weeks until the watershed general election, the DA appears to be fighting to retain its throne, writes Jason Felix.
