‘DA's grip on power in WC on a knife-edge’, says analyst
The party’s leader John Steenhuisen has in recent days labelled smaller parties trying to unseat the party in the only DA run province as "political mercenaries".
Democratic Alliance members during the party's Western Cape manifesto launch on 6 April 2024. Picture: @ricardomackenzi/X
CAPE TOWN - Political analyst Daniel Silke says the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s grip on power in the Western Cape is on a knife-edge and an outright victory is not guaranteed.
He says one also can’t rule out the DA just managing to get over the finish line considering the margin of error in opinion polls.
The party’s leader John Steenhuisen has in recent days labelled smaller parties trying to unseat the party in the only DA-run province as "political mercenaries".
Opinion polls in recent months say the DA is likely to lose support and could once again be forced to enter into a coalition in the province that it has controlled for 15 years.
Several parties have also been campaigning in the province in recent days from the African National Congress (ANC) to newcomer Rise Mzansi.
Political analyst Daniel Silke said the DA might struggle to retain outright control.
"The opinion polls are certainly showing that the DA’s support of 50% or over 50% is on a knife edge. The DA by no means has a secure path getting an outright victory. Though given the margin of error in polls, it’s entirely possible that the DA can just squeeze over the finish line to get that outright majority."
Silke says the DA has been trying to find fault with the various smaller because they are essentially fishing in the same “political pond” as them.
The DA said voters can either elect a DA outright majority in the Western Cape, or risk getting a coalition of corruption between the ANC, the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Patriotic Alliance.