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Democratic Aliiance Federal leader, John Steenhuisen
Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal leader, John Steenhuisen has urged party members and supporters to reduce the African National Congress’s (ANC) support to below 50% in every municipality in the Free State.
He delivered a keynote address at the party’s provincial congress outlining the party’s commitment to govern as many municipalities as possible.
The DA is eyeing to takeover as many municipalities as possible across the Free State. At the top of its list is the only metro in the province, the Mangaung Metro Municipality.
The party’s Dr Roy Jankielsohn has promised voters improved service delivery, which it says will attract investment and help boost the economy.
“But only if the people in the free state really want that, and I’m sure people in the free state are fed up with empty taps, they’re fed up with steward roads, they fed up with sewerage running through their streets and into the dams and streams and rivers. They fed up with dirty communities. They fed up with the crime, they want improvement in their lives, and now is their opportunity to actually vote for that, and that is what our offer is, and it’s not something that we just offer before elections. It’s always there for the people if they really want it enough.”
The party, in its effort to boot out the ANC, says failures in municipalities are man made and can be fixed by individuals of integrity found within the DA.
Steenhuisen says urgent intervention is needed to rescue the Free State. “Municipalities are in absolute crisis , roads are dilapidated, sewerage in the streets water in undrinkable and no jobs people are desperate for jobs. The matching orders is that we have got to go an liberate this people from corruption and maladministration. We have to go out and tell people that there are municipalities where these things are working.”
The provincial finance chairperson and provincial leader have been elected unopposed.
“We govern from the belief that people deserve water, safety, dignity, and opportunity.
This year’s local government election will be won by trust and care.” – John Steenhuisen, DA Leader
Let’s get municipalities working! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/ahGn9gcmPf
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) January 31, 2026
