DA declares the ANC's demise in KwaZulu-Natal, citing spectacular failures

Francois Rogers, the DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal and MEC of Finance, stated that the ANC in the province has "died" due to its spectacular failures across all spheres of government and municipalities. Speaking at the DA national congress in Johannesburg, Rogers emphasized that the era of one-party dominance is over, and voters are no longer giving political parties a blank cheque to govern. He highlighted that coalitions, when built on principle, delivery, and accountability, are the future of South African politics. Rogers noted that the DA has exposed corruption, inflated contracts, and empty bank accounts in KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, even while being part of a coalition with the ANC. He mentioned that the decision to place the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education under Section 18 of the PFMA, a Treasury intervention, nearly caused the collapse of the government of provincial unity. The ANC's mother body has been attempting to revive support in the province after a significant defeat in the 2024 provincial elections, leading to the appointment of a provincial task team to rebuild branches. There are reports that the ANC's National Working Committee will discuss the possible removal of Jeff Radebe as the convenor of this task team due to perceived failures.