BELHAR, Western Cape — The Democratic Alliance held its final Western Cape rally in Belhar this weekend, making a decisive push to retain power ahead of the November 4 local government elections. Party leaders, including Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers, Cape Town mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis, and federal chairperson Solly Msimanga, used the platform at the Erica Park Sports Ground to address service delivery, community safety, and coalition strategies, aiming to convince residents of their continued mandate to govern the province and the city.
Defending the Majority Amid Mixed Polls
Addressing a large crowd of supporters, Democratic Alliance Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers dismissed recent polls suggesting the party might drop below the 50% mark. Simmers noted that the turnout at the Belhar rally was larger than similar events in 2024, expressing confidence that the party will not only retain its outright majority in the city of Cape Town—a stronghold it has held for 20 years—but potentially increase its margin.
Simmers emphasized that while the party has faced setbacks in certain by-elections, the overall spirit in rural and non-metro areas remains strong. He attributed voter empowerment to an electorate that is asking difficult questions, but maintained that the Democratic Alliance remains the only party with a proud, verifiable mandate of delivery across the country.
Service Delivery and Infrastructure Investment
Democratic Alliance federal chairperson Solly Msimanga echoed the campaign’s focus on service delivery, particularly in historically disadvantaged areas. Referencing the points highlighted by mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis, Msimanga defended the city’s recent budget as the most “pro-poor” of any metro in the country, pushing back against critics who claim the party only serves affluent areas.
Drawing comparisons between Khayelitsha, Alexandra, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape, Msimanga argued that national government grants are being heavily invested in the Western Cape’s poor communities. He pointed to the construction of world-class clinics, hospitals, libraries, and sporting facilities as evidence of this investment. Acknowledging that the party is “not perfect,” Msimanga highlighted that infrastructure backlogs and overspill sewage issues are often exacerbated by criminal elements halting projects and a decline in national conditional grants, compounded by an influx of semigration.
Tackling Crime and Policing Challenges
Community safety was a central theme of the rally. Simmers criticized the national security cluster and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for ineffective deployment, noting that some low-crime stations are overstaffed while high-crime areas like Belhar lack sufficient officers.
To combat this, Simmers highlighted the provincial rollout of LEAP (Law Enforcement Advancement Plan) to rural municipalities. Furthermore, he noted that the city and province are now placing attorneys directly at police stations to ensure that opened dockets are accurately processed and do not get thrown out due to technical errors.
Strict Rules for Coalition Governments
Looking ahead to potential coalition negotiations, Msimanga drew a strict line regarding the city of Cape Town, stating on the record that the municipality will not be governed under a coalition.
However, for other municipalities where coalitions are necessary, Msimanga outlined clear red lines: any partner must commit to the rule of law, the rooting out of corruption, and competent governance focused on service delivery. He firmly rejected “horse trading” or the “auctioning” of political positions, warning that internal politicking wastes time that should be spent serving residents.
National Expansion and Future Ambitions
Beyond the Western Cape, the Democratic Alliance is signaling a strong national expansion strategy. Msimanga predicted that the party will become the largest political party in councils such as Pretoria and Tshwane, even if they fall short of an outright majority.
Reiterating the party’s national footprint, Msimanga emphasized that the Democratic Alliance is the only political party fielding mayoral candidates in almost all municipalities and representing every single ward across South Africa, demonstrating a serious commitment to national growth and accessible governance.
