The DA’s withdrawal confirms what ActionSA warned: Politicking at the expense of ratepayers

THE Democratic Alliance’s sudden decision to abandon its court application seeking to interdict the appointment of three Executive Directors in the eThekwini Municipality has confirmed what ActionSA cautioned from the very beginning — that this was never about clean governance, but about politics.

Last week, when the DA rushed to court claiming irregularities in the recruitment and appointment process, they did so after fully participating in both the Executive Committee (EXCO) and Council meetings without raising a single procedural concern.

Not once did they warn Council that theprocess might be flawed, unlawful, or worthy of litigation. Only now, when required to argue their case before a judge, have they quietly withdrawn. This leads to an unavoidable conclusion:The DA’s case was never solid. Their intention was political, not principled.

A Wasteful Political Stunt — Confirmed

This development vindicates ActionSA’s earlier concerns about the DA’s motives. Their withdrawal demonstrates that this was nothing more than a political stunt — one that came at a direct cost to the people of eThekwini. Municipalities do not go to court for free. Every hour spent preparing responding papers, consulting legal teams, and defending Council decisions is paid for by ratepayers.

Money that could have repaired infrastructure, improved service delivery, or strengthened frontline departments was instead wasted on responding to litigation that the DA ultimately abandoned. At a time when residents face broken infrastructure, sewer spills, waste management failures, and ongoing service backlogs, it is deeply irresponsible for any political party to initiate legal proceedings without a solid basis — only to abandon them once scrutiny begins.

Political Convenience Over Good Governance

The DA had representatives in EXCO — the very committee that received the full assessment documents, scoring results, and interview outcomes for the shortlisted candidates. If irregularities existed, that was the appropriate moment to raise them.They did not. In the Council meeting, only ActionSA asked why a candidate ranked number 3 was recommended above candidates ranked 1 and 2, and why Council had not been given the full scoring sheets and competency assessment results.

The DA remained silent — only to raise their voice later in court, before withdrawing when confronted with the need to justify their allegations.

This behaviour raises a deeper concern: Was the DA acting in the interests of good governance, or merely seeking political mileage?

Residents Deserve Better

Litigation should be a last resort, used when governance processes have failed and wrongdoing can be demonstrated. It must never be used as a political tool to generate publicity at the expense oftaxpayers. The DA’s withdrawal on Wednesday, 10 December 2025 is a tacit acknowledgement that they lacked the evidence to sustain their claims. Yet, residents will still bear the cost of this avoidable legal detour.

A Call for Responsible Leadership

eThekwini needs political leadership that prioritises service delivery, safeguards public funds, and engages constructively within Council structures. What it does not need is “hit-and-run” litigation driven by political expediency. If political parties intend to challenge decisions, they must do so openly in EXCO and Council, transparently before the public, and with genuine intention to improve governance — not by dragging the Municipality into fruitless legal battles.

The residents of eThekwini deserve honesty, accountability, and maturity from all political actors. The DA’s withdrawal confirms what ActionSA highlighted from the outset:This was never about governance. It was about politics. And it wasted ratepayers’ money.

ActionSA’s Commitment

ActionSA will always stand with ratepayers in an honest and ethical manner, consistent with our values. We will continue to challenge the Municipality when unlawful decisions are taken — but only after exhausting all internal avenues, debating issues openly in Council, and using every available platform before ever considering court action. That is the responsible, transparent, and ethical approach that residents deserve.

Mncwango is the eThekwini Caucus Leader of ACTIONSA

The views expressed does not necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or IOL.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE