DA leader John Steenhuisen has called party ministers and deputies in the GNU to showcase their work in the by-election campaigns, but political analysts warn that it may not work.
Image: File
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has urged ministers and deputy ministers from the blue party in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to use their “success” to lure voters ahead of the 2026 local government elections, but analysts warn they lack real achievements.
Steenhuisen has called on the ministers to step up efforts during the upcoming by-election campaigns in areas where they will be expected to campaign.
This call comes ahead of the much-anticipated 2026 local government elections, where political parties are preparing hard to win voters' support and secure governance at the local level.
Since its involvement in the GNU, the DA has claimed victories, among others, the recent rejection of the VAT increase, Hammanskraal water project, and eradicating corruption in the departments that the DA are deployed in.
In a letter seen by IOL News to the ministers, Steenhuisen requested participation from all ministers and deputy ministers in the by-elections campaign activities.
He stressed the need to “showcase the work done” by those deployed in the GNU, especially in areas where by-elections are being contested.
“We need to ensure that we gain maximum benefit from our participation in the National Government,” Steenhuisen said.
“This means participating in campaign activities on the ground, where your efforts can be further amplified,” he added.
The DA is contesting four by-elections: Johannesburg ward 82 (April 2), Johannesburg ward 99 (April 2), KZN eThekwini ward 110 (April 16) and Rand West ward 6, with the date set to be confirmed.
Steenhuisen suggested that ministers and deputy ministers align their campaign activities with issues relevant to each ward, with help from the party’s by-election team to ensure coordination.
However, political analysts Goodenough Mashego expressed skepticism over the strategy’s potential for success.
While brand visibility can boost the party’s brand, Mashego argued that the DA’s efforts are unlikely to resonate with the voters at the local level.
“The problem is one, they don't have anything to sell, especially in communities struggling with local government issues. People want to see tangible results, not just hear rhetoric,” he said.
“At the local level, people want to see something before they actually decide on how they're going to vote.”
Mashego criticised the approach, suggesting that the ministers sent to campaign in the local by-elections might find themselves on the defensive, unable to answer questions about matters that they have little direct control over.
“Bringing big names only highlights the DA’s weaknesses, because they can’t convince voters on the ground,” Mashego told IOL News.
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political parties including the ANC and DA are expected to start campaigning in a bid to win voter support in the local government elections in 2026.
Image: IOL graphic
Another political analyst, Professor Theo Neethling, from the University of the Free State’s department of political studies and governance, warned that the blue party’s involvement in the GNU could backfire.
While the party’s ministers have been vocal about their portfolios, Neethling warned that their participation in the GNU risks undermining their credibility among their supporters.
“They will have to try and steer clear from criticism that they have been co-opted in the Government of National Unity by the ANC,” Neethling said.
“But the ANC has its own challenges, and if voter dissatisfaction grows, it could work in the DA’s favour.”
Neethling speculated that the DA might focus on its Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, stating that his strong social media presence has already resonated with the party’s supporters.
“At the very least, Schreiber’s efforts will satisfy the DA's constituency. They can keep what they got,” Neethling told IOL News.
With the ANC’s local government performance in the spotlight, Neethling argued that the DA could gain votes in the proportional system if disappointed ANC voters abstain from voting.
simon.majadibodu@africannewsagency.com
IOL Politics
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