Ramaphosa Praises DA-Run Municipalities

President Cyril Ramaphosa urged ANC councillors to learn from Democratic Alliance-run municipalities, a remark later shared by journalist Hopewell Chin'ono.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in City Hall

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At an ANC gathering at FNB Stadium in Soweto in September 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that some of South Africa's best-performing municipalities are not ANC-controlled and urged councillors to learn from DA-run Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Journalist Hopewell Chin'ono later shared a video of the remarks, responding to online accusations of racial bias over his praise for DA governance.

Why it matters

The remarks, made ahead of the 2026 local government elections, highlight governance and audit concerns within ANC-run councils. The debate bears on how voters across South Africa judge municipal performance as parties prepare for fragmented councils.

The remarks were made at a September 2025 ANC councillor gathering in Soweto ahead of the 2026 local government elections. The source does not provide specific audit scores or service-delivery figures for the municipalities named.

The players

Cyril Ramaphosa

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

Hopewell Chin'ono

Hopewell Chin'ono is a South African journalist and documentary filmmaker known for his commentary on governance and corruption.

The details

Ramaphosa said municipalities receiving the strongest outcomes were often not ANC-controlled and criticised the preparation and accuracy of municipal financial statements. Chin'ono paired the clip with service-delivery complaints about Johannesburg, citing potholes, burst pipes and broken streetlights.

September 2025: Ramaphosa addresses ANC councillors at FNB Stadium in Soweto.
2026 local government elections: ANC councillors gather to focus on prospects ahead of the polls.
14 November 2026: Chin'ono shares the video and it circulates online.

Political Context

The remarks sit against a long-running contest in which DA-run Cape Town and Stellenbosch are often cited as models of municipal governance. Opposition parties have historically used those municipalities to argue that ANC-run councils underperform on service delivery and audits.

For residents, the debate bears on which parties run their municipalities and how well services such as roads, water and street lighting are delivered. Voters preparing for the 2026 local government elections may weigh audit results and service records when choosing councillors.

The takeaway

Municipal audit outcomes and service-delivery records are the measures voters can use to compare councils ahead of the next local elections. Checking those published results before voting gives a clearer picture than party rhetoric alone.