Democratic Alliance

• WaterKeep water money apart to replace old pipes and fix leaks.
• Electricity and power cutsKeep electricity money apart for the grid and let councils (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) trade power.
• RubbishExplore deals with private firms to collect waste and recycling.
• Toilets and sewagePut investment in wastewater treatment first.
• RoadsPut upkeep and upgrades of roads, intersections, traffic lights and signs first.

Compare every party on core services →

• Building housesRelease unused state-owned land for housing.
• Informal settlementsSet up community hotlines to report new informal structures being built.
• Title deedsHand over title deeds for old and new state-subsidised houses.

Compare every party on housing and land →

• CrimePush for capable councils to get policing powers and a budget.
• Metro policeSet up municipal police services in all major and secondary cities.
• Local jobsMake hiring for public works jobs fair, open and free of politics.
• Business and growthGive investors one-stop help, dedicated teams and faster support in its councils.

Compare every party on safety and jobs →

• CorruptionMake top council money officials pay back losses they cause, personally.
• Audit resultsGive every council it runs working committees that check its spending.
• Wasteful spendingNo 2026 promise found.
• CoalitionsNo 2026 promise found.
• BudgetsPass cost-covering tariffs and funded budgets for pipes, roads and power lines.

Compare every party on governance and money →

• In April 2026 the Cape Argus reported on 11 Western Cape councils (Council The group of elected people who make decisions for a municipality. They pass its budget and choose the mayor.) where the DA named candidates for mayor (Mayor The leader of the municipality. Councillors choose this person, not voters. So the seats each party wins decide who can lead.). It said the DA was running all of them at that time. These councils are Bitou, Bergrivier, Cape Agulhas, Drakenstein, Garden Route District, George, Matzikama, Overstrand, Swartland, Stellenbosch and Witzenberg.
• The DA runs Midvaal with more than half the seats. It won 19 of 30 seats in 2021, according to the IEC (IEC The Electoral Commission of South Africa. It runs elections. It is independent, so it does not take orders from the government or any party.). EWN called Midvaal "DA-run" in August 2025. OFM reported that the DA's Peter Teixeira was still executive mayor in June 2026. The Auditor-General's 2024-25 report lists Midvaal among 23 councils with a clean audit for five or more years in a row. Midvaal's run is 12 years. A clean audit means the Auditor-General found no serious problems.
• The DA runs Mossel Bay with more than half the seats. It won 19 of 29 seats in 2021, according to the IEC. The council lists Dirk Kotzé as Executive Mayor. EWN reported in March 2026 that the DA chose him again as its 2026 candidate for mayor. The Auditor-General's 2024-25 report lists Mossel Bay among 23 councils with a clean audit for five or more years in a row. Mossel Bay's run is 6 years.
• The DA leads Beaufort West. Its councillor (Councillor A person elected to make decisions for a municipality, such as the budget and who the mayor is. Each one holds one seat.) Gina Duimpies has been mayor since August 2025. Before that, an ANC mayor had been elected with a DA councillor's vote, and then resigned. GroundUp reported this on EWN in Sept 2026. By-elections (votes to fill empty seats) in June 2024 gave the DA more than half the seats. But the DA later expelled councillors from the party (Party A group of people who stand for election together, with shared plans.). We have not confirmed how many seats it has now. The Auditor-General's 2024-25 report lists Beaufort West among councils whose audit outcome improved over the council term. It also lists the council among three Western Cape councils with going concern uncertainty for 9 years. This is a warning that money problems may stop it running services.
• The DA led a coalition (Coalition Parties that agree to run a council together, usually because none has more than half the seats alone. Together they choose the mayor.) with GOOD and the SRWP in Theewaterskloof, with Lincoln de Bruyn as mayor. In November 2024 the Western Cape High Court put him back in office. The Post reported this in February 2025. In late September 2026 a motion from the ANC, PA and EFF removed him, IOL reported. The DA's Western Cape leader said the ANC and PA "once again joined forces to remove Mayor De Bruyn." In October 2026 the DA said the council had voted to undo his removal, the Daily Voice reported. No source outside the DA confirms who is mayor now. The DA won 11 of 27 seats in 2021, according to the IEC. GroundUp reported in June 2025 that the council was "bankrupted within three financial years while the ANC, Patriotic Alliance and GOOD held the political reins." Its 2023/24 audit was qualified, which means the Auditor-General found some figures it could not trust. Irregular spending, which is spending that broke the rules, rose to R262 million. The province put the council under financial administration in November 2024. The Auditor-General's 2024-25 report lists Theewaterskloof among councils whose audit outcome got worse over the council term. It also lists the council among three Western Cape councils with going concern uncertainty, a warning that money problems may stop it running services.
• The IEC said the DA won more than half the seats in 13 councils in 2021. The IEC's count includes district councils (District council A council over several local municipalities. It runs services for the whole area. There are 44. Voters outside the metros also vote for it.).

Parties (Party A group of people who stand for election together, with shared plans.) must declare some donations. This applies when one donor gives them more than R200 000 in total in a financial year. A financial year runs from April to March. The limit used to be R100 000. The President raised it in Proclamation Notice R. 275 of 2025. This was published in the Government Gazette on 18 August 2025. So the July to September 2025 report uses R100 000 for donations before that date. A smaller donation is declared once the donor's total for the year passes the limit. The IEC says the Political Funding Act covers each registered (Registered Your name is on the voters' roll. Registration for this election closed on 7 August 2026.) party, even one with no seats (Seat A place on the council, held by one councillor. A party with more votes gets more of these places.) in Parliament (Parliament South Africa's national law-makers, in Cape Town. It has two parts, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.) or a provincial legislature. So the IEC's reports cover each party listed here. Smaller gifts, membership fees and public money are not in these reports. So no rows means no donor passed the limit in these reports. It does not mean the party got no money. The IEC's yearly report shows each party's total of smaller gifts, without names. These are the donations the party told the IEC about, as the IEC published them. We do not compare parties. Checked 20 October 2026.

• “This reckless escalation appears to have been triggered not by any genuine security concern, but by political irritation following the Israeli mission’s visit to the Eastern Cape”

  Party statement, 30 January 2026

  The government sent Israel's top diplomat in South Africa home. The DA criticised this. It said the step puts South Africa's trade at risk.

• “notes with great concern that the Chief of the SA National Defence Force, SANDF, Gen Rudzani Maphwanya engaged in unsanctioned political diplomacy during his visit to Iran”

  In Parliament, 16 September 2025

  C Hattingh, a DA MP (MP (Member of Parliament) A person who sits in Parliament, which makes South Africa's laws. They are not chosen in this local election.), said this in a motion in Parliament (Parliament South Africa's national law-makers, in Cape Town. It has two parts, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.). A motion is a written proposal that MPs are asked to agree to. The DA says Gen Rudzani Maphwanya, head of South Africa's defence force, did political work for South Africa in Iran without permission. It says this pushes South Africa further away from other countries, mostly the US. The House did not agree to the motion that day, so it was kept for later.

• “there was no evidence of apartheid and, to the contrary, Israel is a vibrant progressive multi-racial and multi-ethnic society, in which the rights of all citizens are protected and upheld by the rule of law”

  News report, 10 April 2025

  DA MPs, including its foreign-affairs spokesperson, went on a trip to Israel in April 2025. South African Friends of Israel (SAFI) paid for it. Afterwards SAFI put out the statement quoted here.

• “The trip was arranged and attended by individuals in their private capacity and not through the party”

  News report, 9 April 2025

  DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp told Daily Maverick that the MPs went on the Israel trip in their private capacity, not through the party.

• “As government champions the rights of Palestinians, we must also speak up for the Uyghur, for the people of Ukraine, and for those oppressed under Mnangagwa’s brutal rule.”

  In Parliament, 15 November 2024

  Emma Powell, a DA MP, said this in a Parliament debate about abuses against minority groups worldwide. She means South Africa should speak up for every group that is harmed, not just some. She names the Uyghurs, a minority in China, and people in Ukraine and Zimbabwe. She says the ANC government stays quiet about them. The DA wants South Africa to stay out of every group of powerful countries and judge each case the same way.

• “Israel to abide by the ICJ’s ruling to avoid and prevent genocide”

  Party statement, 26 January 2024

  After the ICJ's first order in the case, the DA called on Israel to obey it. It also called on Hamas to disarm and for all civilian hostages to be returned.

• “The Democratic Alliance (DA) and African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) are not throwing their weight behind South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.”

  News report, 10 January 2024

  EWN reported that the DA did not support South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.

• “So the DA's position is it's a firm no from us.”

  Vote in Parliament, 21 November 2023

  All 67 DA MPs present voted against asking the government to close Israel's embassy (Embassy A country's main office in another country. It speaks for its own government there.) and cut ties. The motion passed, 248 votes to 91. Emma Powell said cutting ties would leave South Africa no say in peace talks.

• “While the DA recognises Israel’s right to defend itself, and to deal with Hamas in a manner that ensures a path to lasting peace in the region, we call on the Israeli government to uphold international law and significantly enhance access to humanitarian aid in Gaza.”

  Party statement, 7 November 2023

  John Steenhuisen, then DA leader, wrote that Israel may defend itself and deal with Hamas. In the same piece he condemned collective punishment of people in Gaza. He asked Israel to obey international law and let in much more aid.

• “The DA parliamentary caucus had resolved that its MPs would not publicly comment on the Isreal-Palestine war, except its shadow minister on international relations.”

  News report, 2 November 2023

  The DA removed MP Ghaleb Cachalia from its shadow cabinet after he posted that Israel was committing genocide, TimesLIVE reported. The DA said he broke a caucus rule that only its foreign-affairs spokesperson speaks on the war.

• “While we recognise the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, we equally recognise the right of the Israeli state to defend herself and her people.”

  Party statement, 7 October 2023

  The DA condemned Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. It said Palestinians have a right to their own state, and Israel has a right to defend itself.

• “As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, it is not a war, it is the invasion of one state into another.”

  In Parliament, 4 March 2026

  R Smith, a DA MP, said this while asking a deputy minister a question in Parliament. He means South Africa should call Russia's actions an attack on Ukraine, not a fight between two sides. He wants the government to say openly that Russia is wrong. He says Russia is a threat to the European Union, the biggest group of countries South Africa trades with. So he says taking this stand would protect South African trade and jobs.

• “As government champions the rights of Palestinians, we must also speak up for the Uyghur, for the people of Ukraine”

  In Parliament, 15 November 2024

  Emma Powell, a DA MP, said this in a Parliament debate about abuses against minority groups worldwide. She means South Africa should stand up for Ukraine, as it does for Palestinians. She says Russia invaded Ukraine to take land that is not its own. She says the ANC has not called this wrong and stays close to Russia. The DA wants South Africa to treat every war alike and not take sides with any group of countries.

• “The Department of Justice further agreed to pay the costs of the legal application which was launched by the DA compelling President Cyril Ramaphosa to execute an ICC warrant of arrest for Putin.”

  News report, 21 July 2023

  The Citizen reported that the DA's court case ended by agreement in July 2023, because Putin would not visit South Africa. The Justice Department agreed to pay the DA's legal costs.

• “The DA has launched an application in the Gauteng High Court requesting a declaration that if Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in South Africa to attend the Brics summit later this year the government must detain and surrender him to the International Criminal Court (ICC).”

  News report, 31 May 2023

  The DA asked the High Court to order that Putin be arrested if he came to the BRICS summit. The International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

• “The DA has confirmed its leader John Steenhuisen’s “fact-finding mission” trip to Ukraine was funded by The Brenthurst Foundation. The foundation was established by the Oppenheimer family”

  News report, 9 May 2022

  The DA confirmed that the Brenthurst Foundation paid for Steenhuisen's Ukraine trip, The Star reported. The Star said the Oppenheimer family set up the foundation.

• “It is strongly in South Africa’s interest to stand with the free world and come out hard against Russian aggression”

  News report, 5 May 2022

  John Steenhuisen, then DA leader, spent six days in Ukraine in May 2022. He said South Africa should stand with Ukraine against Russia.

• “The report also violates several core tenets of the South African Bill of Rights, including freedom of association, freedom of movement and freedom of conscience.”

  In Parliament, 12 September 2025

  R Smith, a DA MP, said this in a debate in Parliament on a report about MPs' trip to China. Smith says the report told China that Parliament is against South Africans who visit Taiwan. He says this goes against rights in the Constitution, like the right to travel and to meet whoever you choose. The DA accepts the One China policy, the view that Taiwan is part of China. But it would not support this report.

• “It is critical that Taiwan continues to enjoy consular and trade representation on the same basis that they have done since 1998.”

  In Parliament, 15 November 2024

  Emma Powell, a DA MP, said this in a debate in Parliament. The government had asked Taiwan's office, the Taipei Liaison Office, to move out of Pretoria. That office deals with trade and helps people with visas and other papers. Powell wants it to stay on the same terms as before, because South Africa sells coal, grain and cars to Taiwan. She says other countries are pushing South Africa to make this change, and it should say no.

• “At a time when unemployment remains unacceptably high, South Africa can ill afford to lose preferential access to one of its most important export markets”

  Party statement, 15 October 2026

  Geordin Hill-Lewis, the DA leader, wrote this in a letter to the trade union Solidarity, TimesLIVE reported. He means South Africa must keep AGOA, a US law that lets many African goods into the US on better terms. He says losing it would hurt workers and businesses, while many people have no jobs. The DA wants the Cabinet, the President's team of ministers, to deal with it fast. He says the DA has also sent people to the US to talk to officials.

• “Agriculture minister and DA leader John Steenhuisen dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claims of a genocide against white afrikaners.”

  News report, 21 May 2025

  Steenhuisen went with President Ramaphosa to the White House. There he rejected Trump's claim of a genocide against white Afrikaners, EWN reported.

• “We can’t determine where people live and what their life choices are. I think they’ve made a mistake,”

  News report, 16 May 2025

  Steenhuisen said the Afrikaners who went to the US as refugees in May 2025 had made a mistake.

• “The DA views the situation as deeply unfortunate, and we call on the Presidency to expedite the GNU delegation to the USA”

  Party statement, 17 March 2025

  Emma Powell, who speaks for the DA on other countries, said this, EWN reported. The US had just sent home Ebrahim Rasool, who spoke for South Africa in the US as its ambassador (Ambassador The top person a country sends to speak for it in another country.). This came after his podcast comments about Trump's movement, which Powell called unwise. The DA wants the President's office to send a government team to the US soon. It says this would calm relations with a key trade partner.

• “Steenhuisen says the executive order by US president Donald Trump was guided by misinformation around the true state of affairs in the country.”

  News report, 8 February 2025

  Steenhuisen said Trump's order against South Africa was based on false information. He said the government should repair its ties with the US. The order cut US aid and offered Afrikaners refugee status.

• “But the point we were trying to make with them is that the ANC is not South Africa. That we’ve got prospects for a new government next year. And it’s obviously in our interests for Agoa to remain.”

  News report, 2 May 2023

  A DA team led by Steenhuisen went to Washington to argue for keeping AGOA. He said he told US officials that the ANC is not South Africa.

• “South Africa should be defending those fighting for freedom and democracy here on our own continent.”

  In Parliament, 26 March 2026

  D Kohler, a DA MP, said this in a debate in Parliament about Venezuela. The debate was about a campaign to free Cilia Flores Maduro. She is a Venezuelan MP whom the US captured. Kohler means South Africa should care first about its own region, where she says its voice counts. She wants South Africa to speak up about opposition politicians arrested in Uganda, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.