D’siza

The DA will emerge from the 2026 local government elections as the biggest party in the Tshwane Metro. We aimed for a complete win to end the coalition chaos. But this is not what we will get. In a democracy you have to play the cards dealt to you by the voters, and this is what we will do. We approach coalition negotiations with humility, openness, but also principled determination. Our federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has outlined the DA’s approach to working with other parties, and I want to encourage you to read his statement in this regard. In the meantime I’m overjoyed by the high turnout by DA voters, our double digit growth in nearly all township wards, and opportunities created by the seismic shift in support among especially black voters. We all expected the ANC to lose support, but the size of the loss shocked even us. I once again want to thank each and every voter who chose the DA, every hardworking candidate, and every volunteer who helped on the election days. Also thank you for all the messages of support, including many of you who have told me that we are in your prayers.