Striking coalition deals
In terms of the ability to assemble and manage coalition governments, the DA has a head start over its rivals.
The case of Johannesburg provides a powerful example. During the 2016 municipal elections, the ANC won the most votes in Johannesburg, with 44.99%. The DA came second, with 38.40%. When the results were announced, the headline of a News24 report stated that the “ANC takes Joburg, but gets below 50%.”
This is a glaring contradiction in terms, and a good example of how sensationalist or sloppy reporting can misshape voter expectations.
The second part of the statement — that the ANC got below 50% — completely negates the statement that it “took” Johannesburg. Even though the ANC got the most votes in the Johannesburg metro, the fact that it fell short of a simple majority meant that it could not govern the city on its own.
Despite the DA being only the second-biggest party in the Johannesburg council, it ultimately assembled a Da-led minority government that took control of the city.
Having fallen short of the 50% mark, the ANC’S status counted for very little because it failed to broker a deal with other parties.
In circumstances where no party garners an outright majority, expert negotiators become the most powerful tools in any political party’s arsenal.
The ANC did not lose Johannesburg in 2016 because it won fewer votes than the DA. The ANC lost because the DA out-negotiated it.
Unlike other established opposition parties such as the UDM, IFP and FF+, the DA has grown consistently over the past decade, which has made it the senior partner in a number of coalition governments.
Of all SA parties, the DA has by far the most experience when it comes to striking coalition deals. As the recent cases in Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay have shown, DA leaders are also able to keep coalitions together through turbulent times.
Given its long life, and relatively extensive governing experience, the DA has developed significant institutional memory.
Moreover, its sophisticated and competent inhouse leadership training team means the DA is also well positioned to translate its institutional memory into training programmes for its public representatives, thereby preparing the party for leading coalitions from 2019 onwards.