The Democratic Alliance (DA) has placed political stability at the centre of its election campaign, warning that multi-party coalitions can make effective local government difficult.
Speaking ahead of the party’s final campaign rally in Mamelodi, Tshwane, Deputy Federal Chair Solly Malatsi said the DA was targeting outright majorities in Gauteng’s biggest metropolitan municipalities to avoid the challenges associated with coalition administrations.
In an televised interview on Saturday morning, Malatsi expressed confidence that the party could emerge as the largest political party in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
He said securing close to 40% of the vote would put the DA in a stronger position to negotiate coalition agreements with fewer political partners if it failed to secure outright majorities.
“We are anticipating that we’ll be the largest party in Johannesburg, for instance, right? Ekurhuleni is looking very positive that we’ll be the largest party there, and Pretoria too,” Malatsi said.
He argued that coalitions involving numerous political parties were particularly vulnerable to instability.
“There is nothing as unstable as a multi-party coalition. So, the fewer coalition parties, the better,” he added.
While the DA is seeking outright victories, Malatsi acknowledged that coalition governments could remain part of South Africa’s local government landscape.
The party has also identified basic service delivery as a central election issue, highlighting reliable water and electricity, refuse removal and safer communities as priorities.
The DA’s final rally in Mamelodi forms part of its last campaign push ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.