Time for political analysts to take the DA seriously
A party that controls more than R200bn in municipal budgets and influences the lives of 12-million people warrants greater scrutiny, writes Gareth van Onselen
After last year’s local government elections, and by winning the Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay metros, the point was made that the DA now controls the vast majority of the local government budget. Conversely, the ANC’s control over that same budget has been decimated. Writing for the Business Day, Stuart Theobald put it like this: "In total, the metros have a budget of R233bn in 2016, of which ANC-controlled councils command 24%, down from 83% before the election." If one uses the government’s Community Survey 2016, regarding those same four metros, the DA now has a direct say and influence over the lives of at least 12.2-million people. That is 4-million more than the total number of votes the ANC won in the 2016 election and before one takes into account the other councils it administers. Nationally, however, the DA has still not managed to breach the 30% threshold. The ANC might have fallen to 53.9% but there remains a substantial gulf of some 27 percent...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.