The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini is concerned by the credible reports that the ANC Regional Task Team has convened a meeting to discuss cadre deployment for three critical senior administrative positions currently in the process of being filled: the Chief Operations Officer (COO), Executive Director for Public Safety, and Executive Director for Technical Services.
We have been reliably informed by a highly placed member of the task team, that the ANC intends to deploy politically connected individuals, including a former ANC Deputy Mayor, to these key posts. This blatant attempt to hijack the city’s administration for political gain is unacceptable and undermines the principles of good governance and merit-based appointments.
These positions are essential for service delivery, stability, and the restoration of proper administrative function in eThekwini. The city cannot afford to have them filled by compromised individuals whose only qualification is political loyalty. This is yet another example of the ANC’s destructive cadre deployment policy, an approach that has brought the metro to its knees and crippled service delivery.
Despite being roundly rejected by the people of eThekwini in the 2024 elections, securing only 14% of the vote, the ANC still behaves as though it has a mandate to act with impunity. The message from the electorate was clear: the residents of eThekwini are tired of corruption, mismanagement, and political patronage. It is apparent the ANC has learned nothing from its defeat.
The DA will not allow the ANC to install compromised individuals into crucial posts to enable further looting of public resources. We will use every legal and political avenue available to us to oppose this move and ensure that the appointments are made based on merit, not political affiliation.
We also call on the ANC’s coalition partners to clarify whether they support this unethical planned deployment of cadres. Their silence or complicity will speak volumes about their commitment, or lack thereof to ethical governance and the rule of law.
The DA remains committed to protecting the people of eThekwini from corruption and to restoring an administration that is fit for purpose. We will continue to act as a watchdog for residents and hold those in power to account.
The 2026 Local Government Elections allow eThekwini residents the opportunity to send a strong message to the ANC by removing them from power.