DA and ActionSA clash over KwaDukuza mayoral election results
A war of words has erupted between the DA and ActionSA over the election of the KwaDukuza mayor.
The DA accused ActionSA of betraying voters by reinstating the ANC. However, ActionSA shot back, accusing the DA of attempting to deflect blame onto other opposition parties.
The post of mayor was left vacant after the ANC recalled Ali Ngidi from the position after an investigation into allegations related to the hiring of a vehicle and security at his home.
S’duduzo Gumede, of the ANC, was elected as the new mayor last week. Sakhile Mngadi, the DA Ilembe Constituency Head, said: “First, it was the relentless pressure of the Democratic Alliance (DA) that forced the ANC to remove its scandal-ridden former mayor, Ali Ngidi. Without the DA’s consistent exposure of corruption and maladministration, the ANC would have continued to shield him.
“Second, the voting outcome – ANC (38), DA (9), Independent Alliance (10) – reveals the tragic choices made by other opposition parties. The IFP has consciously chosen to reinstate the ANC by rallying behind S’duduzo Gumede. ActionSA, instead of uniting behind the only credible alternative in the DA, has hidden behind the Independent Alliance and allowed the ANC a political lifeline. These are acts of political cowardice and a betrayal of the people of KwaDukuza,” he said.
Mngadi added that at the very moment when unity among the opposition could have delivered real change, smaller parties chose narrow deals and personal interests over the residents who are crying out for better governance.
“The voters of KwaDukuza will not forget. In 2026, they will respond by delivering the DA a majority and rendering these parties irrelevant.
“Let it be clear: the DA will not abandon the residents of KwaDukuza. We will continue to hold the ANC’s newly elected mayor to account with the same rigour that exposed Ngidi. The DA remains the only party with the capacity, credibility, and vision to rescue KwaDukuza from the ANC’s failures.
“The ANC may have clung on to office today through the complicity of others, but their days are numbered. The future belongs to the DA,” Mngadi concluded.
Councillor Nel Sewraj, ActionSA KwaDukuza Caucus Leader, condemned the comments from the DA.
“The results speak for themselves: the ANC candidate secured 38 votes with the support of EFF, IFP, ATM, AIC, and MKP, while the DA candidate garnered a meagre 9 votes from within its own caucus.
“This outcome is a direct result of the DA’s arrogant approach to coalition politics, where they expect others to follow their lead without engaging in meaningful dialogue or showing respect for other parties’ perspectives. The DA’s ‘big brother’ attitude is rooted in a flawed assumption that they are the only credible partners in governance, often driven by a racist ideology that questions the ability of other races to govern effectively,” said the ActionSA councillor.
“In stark contrast, ActionSA and the Independent Alliance (IA) demonstrated a willingness to work together, putting aside policy differences to prioritise the interests of KwaDukuza residents. Our decision to support the IA was based on principle, following their initiation of a consultative process that recognised the need for dialogue and maturity in coalition politics. The DA’s failure to attract broader support is a consequence of their own actions, not ours or any other party’s. Their refusal to engage in good-faith negotiations and tendency to dictate terms rather than build consensus has led to their isolation,” said Sewraj.
Sewraj concluded by stating that ActionSA remains committed to being a constructive force for accountability in KwaDukuza, working with partners who share their commitment to collaborative governance and putting residents first.