ANC Youth League Demands Removal of DA Ministers

The youth wing is calling for the removal of Democratic Alliance ministers following disagreements over local election ballot access.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a heavy stone archway silhouette, representing the gravity of South Africa's fractured governing coalition. — The ANC Youth League has formally requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa remove Democratic Alliance ministers from South Africa's cabinet following electoral ballot disputes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should coalition partners in government be removed for opposing each other in court proceedings?

The African National Congress Youth League has requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa remove Democratic Alliance ministers from the cabinet. The call follows rising tensions between the two parties regarding a court application to reinstate excluded election candidates.

Why it matters

The tension stems from a dispute over the inclusion of 181 candidates in the upcoming local government elections, which the Democratic Alliance opposed. The youth league has suggested that the Economic Freedom Fighters should join the Government of National Unity in place of the DA.

The Constitutional Court directed the Independent Electoral Commission to place 181 candidates on the ballot papers after the ANC filed a court application. This ruling comes as the country prepares for the local government elections on 4 November 2026.

The players

Cyril Ramaphosa

Cyril Ramaphosa is the President of the United States of South Africa and the leader of the African National Congress.

African National Congress Youth League

The African National Congress Youth League is the youth wing of the African National Congress and functions as a political advocacy group.

Democratic Alliance

The Democratic Alliance is a political party that currently serves in the cabinet within the Government of National Unity.

Economic Freedom Fighters

The Economic Freedom Fighters is an opposition political party that the ANC Youth League has suggested should join the governing coalition.

Independent Electoral Commission

The Independent Electoral Commission is the body responsible for managing elections in South Africa.

The details

The request for the removal of DA ministers was announced during a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg. This confrontation highlights growing friction within the governing coalition following the court battle over candidate representation.

15 October 2026: The ANC Youth League held a media briefing at Luthuli House.
4 November 2026: Local government elections are scheduled to occur.

Political Context

The demand for cabinet restructuring signals a direct challenge to the power-sharing agreement established under the Government of National Unity. Opposition groups and internal dissenters argue that such shifts threaten the stability of the current coalition government.

The dispute over candidate access directly impacts the ballot options available to voters in the local government elections. Citizens should verify their local candidate lists to ensure they are informed ahead of the 4 November polling date.

The takeaway

Political instability within coalition governments can create uncertainty regarding the representation of voters on election ballots. Residents are encouraged to monitor official updates from the electoral commission to confirm the final list of candidates in their municipality.