Poor poll results: DA acts

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has placed its Joburg regional executive committee (REC) under administration for its poor showing at last year’s local government elections.

In a letter seen by The Citizen, dated 9 May, 2022, the DA’s Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga informed the REC of the decision.

He said the reason for placing the region under administration was for “significant underperformance” during the municipal polls.

The other factors included internal factionalism, lack of performance by public representatives at all levels and leadership conflict in the region.

DA deputy federal council chair Thomas Walters was appointed as the administrator of the region.

Msimanga said Walters was provided with the terms of reference “with concrete outcomes” that need to be achieved.

“Thomas will meet the REC very soon to explain the details of the terms of reference and the expected outcomes,” he said.

During the 2021 municipal elections, the DA in Joburg managed 26.14% of the vote to govern the country’s economic powerhouse through the support of several small parties like ActionSA, the Inkatha Freedom Party and Freedom Front Plus.

The official opposition party’s support dropped compared to 2016 when it received 38.41%. Provincially, the DA’s voter support in 2021 also dipped to 28.7% from 37.23% in 2016.