Cheap shots

The unravelling of the ANC’s political hegemony has, unsurprisingly, given birth to a number of offshoots and new parties, which is good for a robust and vibrant democracy. Nevertheless, this also poses the risk of undesirable political fragmentation and the formation of unwieldy coalitions involving multiple parties, especially if the ANC fails to secure more than 50% of the vote, as anticipated.

DA leader John Steenhuisen recently criticised the newly emergent and smaller parties, labelling them “popcorn parties” or “political mercenaries”. While this may be seen as part of the competitive nature of politics, it contradicts the principles of democracy. Smaller parties today could potentially become dominant ones in the future.

Steenhuisen’s comments also have to be understood in the context of the fierce competition for votes to win control of the Western Cape government, which has been under DA leadership since 2009. Parties such as the Patriotic Alliance and Rise Mzansi are growing, and there is speculation that the DA’s lukewarm response to Israel’s war in Gaza could alienate Muslim voters. There is no guarantee that it will once again win control of the province.

The DA’s management of the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a whole has rightfully won it praise for its clean and effective governance, which is a strong argument to keep it in power. But this is not to say that other parties could not do as well.

Steenhuisen would be wise to focus his campaign on highlighting the province’s actual accomplishments, rather than resorting to cheap shots that only imply vulnerability and lack of confidence.