South Africa’s future hinges on excellent local governments.
The upcoming Local Government Elections are an opportunity to shift South Africa towards a future of growth, stability, and opportunity – but only if excellent candidates are elected, to form new governments in places desperately in need of excellent service delivery.
The DA is at the forefront of the mission to rescue local governments across South Africa, and this requires the very best candidates to stand for the DA.
The Rescue Mission:
While Gauteng’s unemployment rate is 75% higher than that of the Western Cape, nearly half of all jobs created in the last two quarters have been in the DA-led Western Cape. Only one of these provinces has excellent local government, and the other does not.
Why is Johannesburg’s unemployment rate 35% higher than Cape Town’s? The answer is clear: competent local government matters. This is not an accident.
Meanwhile, down the road in Midvaal, a DA-run municipality in Gauteng, progress is being made towards energy independence, with plans to break free from Eskom. Midvaal also stands as a model of good governance in Gauteng, achieving its 10th successive clean audit and attracting over R1.3 billion in investment under DA Mayor Peter Teixeira’s leadership.
Why it Matters:
How a Municipality is run, depends on the quality of its Councillors and Mayor. Municipalities that fail to deliver essential services—like Johannesburg, where residents often face power outages and service interruptions—are in the state they are in because they are badly led. Political leaders set the policies, priorities, budget, projects, vision – and the permanently employed officials execute on it.
And the quality of those elected Councillors and Mayor, determines how well they hold those officials to account, to deliver.
Local government is the frontline of effective governance. It is here where services should be delivered to the people in line with the Constitution, and where the difference is felt and seen most directly. Local governance is where communities experience the tangible outcomes of leadership—whether that’s in the form of a working road, a new park, or the simple assurance that their water supply will be consistent.
The Call to Serve:
Being a councillor is not an easy job. It comes with immense responsibility and the pressure of ensuring residents’ needs are met, but it is also incredibly rewarding.
It is about making a real difference in people’s lives and showing them that effective, ethical leadership can bring about change. The DA is proud to offer the chance for individuals committed to good governance to step forward and become the leaders South Africa needs.
Local government is about more than just managing services—it is the foundation of economic growth and the key to unlocking a prosperous future for all South Africans. If we are to change the trajectory of our country, we need competent, ethical local governments that can deliver.
The DA has shown that it’s possible. Now, it’s up to all of us to make sure every community can thrive.
DA Candidate Applications are open, and those who want to apply to become a candidate today, and to be part of the solution, should visit candidate-apply.da.org.za to learn more.