ANC campaigns to end DA rule in Cape Town ahead of November elections

The African National Congress is intensifying its campaign to unseat the Democratic Alliance in Cape Town during the Nov. 4 local government elections ^[3].

The outcome will serve as a critical test for the Democratic Alliance, which has governed the city for two decades. A shift in power would signal a major political realignment in the Western Cape.

The ANC is specifically targeting five key municipalities, including Cape Town, as part of a broader strategy to reclaim local governance ^[4]. Party officials said the push for change is driven by a need for new leadership and increased oversight of municipal spending.

Central to the current political friction is the city's financial management. The Cape Town municipal budget now exceeds R76 billion ^[2], a figure that has drawn heightened scrutiny from opposition leaders.

The Democratic Alliance enters the election cycle from a position of relative strength. In the previous local election, the party held a 54% majority ^[1]. This margin has historically provided the DA with a stable mandate to implement its policy agenda without relying on coalition partners.

Despite this lead, the ANC said the current political climate necessitates a change in administration. The party is focusing its efforts on mobilizing voters who feel underserved by the current municipal government.

As the Nov. 4 date approaches, both parties are concentrating resources on the Western Cape. The DA aims to protect its long-standing stronghold, while the ANC seeks to prove it can win in a region where the DA has remained dominant for 20 years [1, 3].