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Democratic Alliance

The Democratic Alliance is a South African political party and the country's official opposition. It is the second-largest party in the National Assembly and holds significant representation in several provincial legislatures. The party governs the Western Cape province and leads coalition administrations in a number of metropolitan municipalities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Tshwane. The Democratic Alliance positions itself as a liberal, centrist party committed to constitutional democracy, market economics and nonracialism. Its policy platform emphasises job creation, service delivery, anticorruption measures and the protection of property rights. The party draws its strongest electoral support from urban areas, particularly in the Western Cape, and has historically attracted a diverse voter base across racial lines, though it remains strongest among white, coloured and Indian South African voters. The Democratic Alliance was formed in 2000 through a merger of the Democratic Party, the New National Party and the Federal Alliance, though the New National Party later withdrew. It has grown steadily in successive elections, reaching a peak of 22% of the national vote in 2014 before experiencing modest declines in subsequent polls. The party has been led by a succession of leaders including Tony Leon, Helen Zille and Mmusi Maimane, with John Steenhuisen serving as federal leader since 2020. In the context of public transport, the Democratic Alliance has championed bus rapid transit systems such as MyCiTi in Cape Town and has been involved in governance and oversight of municipal transport entities.

Democratic Alliance Updates


President Cyril Ramaphosa
Phala Phala impeachment committee to meet on Monday
28th May 2026 By: Reuters

South Africa's parliament has scheduled for Monday a meeting of an impeachment committee that will further probe allegations surrounding President Cyril Ramaphosa's "Farmgate" scandal, the... 


Image of Geordin Hill-Lewis
SA needs real jobs, not more investment conferences – Geordin Hill-Lewis
21st May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis says South Africa’s deepening unemployment crisis demands a sense of urgency and structural reforms, not just investment conferences. President Cyril... 


Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela
DA, EFF slam cancelled NSFAS briefing, demand urgent Parly intervention
19th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters have expressed concerns over the cancellation of a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education meeting, in which the National... 


Healthcare
ConCourt deals blow to NHI
18th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Opposition parties and trade unions overwhelmingly welcomed the recent Constitutional Court ruling, which they viewed as a crucial defence against State control and professional coercion. The... 


DA Parliamentary Chief Whip Glynnis Breytenbach
DA appoints Glynnis Breytenbach as party’s Parliamentary Chief Whip
18th May 2026

Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach is the Democratic Alliance’s new Chief Whip in Parliament, taking over from George Michalakis, who is now the DA’s Parliamentary Leader. Michalakis announced... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa
DA announces Impeachment Committee team
15th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Following the recent Constitutional Court judgment and the subsequent move to establish a Section 89 Impeachment Committee, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally submitted the names of those... 


ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula
ANC rallies behind Ramaphosa, backs High Court review of Phala Phala report
15th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The African National Congress has moved to shut down speculation regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s future, with secretary-general Fikile Mbalula clarifying on Friday that the ANC’s National... 


Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe
Ramaphosa fires Social Development Minister
14th May 2026 By: Sashnee Moodley

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday dismissed Sisisi Tolashe as Minister of Social Development, after widespread calls for her removal. Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons... 


DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis
Impeachment or GNU?: Hill-Lewis says no trade-off for accountability in government
14th May 2026 By: Sashnee Moodley

Despite being in a crucial coalition alliance with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress, Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis is clear that there will be no trade-off for... 


Image of Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa refuses to resign over Phala Phala as Labour Party demands systemic overhaul
12th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Political parties have reacted to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on the Constitutional Court judgment in the Phala Phala matter, with the Labour Party of South Africa urging for a structural... 


DA Mayoral Candidate for Johannesburg Helen Zille
DA takes CoJ, mayor, JHB Water to court over water rights
11th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

The Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg Helen Zille has filed court papers in the South Gauteng High Court arguing that the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water failed... 


EFF national chairperson and parliamentary chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu
Opposition parties demand immediate impeachment process against Ramaphosa after ConCourt ruling
8th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Opposition parties have reacted strongly to Friday’s Constitutional Court judgment on an impeachment inquiry over the Phala Phala scandal, with the Economic Freedom Fighters demanding an immediate... 


President Cyril Ramaphosa
ConCourt revives impeachment process against Ramaphosa
8th May 2026 By: Reuters

South Africa's highest court on Friday revived impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over a scandal in which a large amount of foreign currency was stolen from inside a sofa in... 


Image of Solly Msimanga
DA demands national intervention in Joburg, Ekurhuleni
7th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng has renewed its push for national intervention in the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni municipalities, citing a collapse in service delivery driven by severe... 


Moody's
Moody's sees South Africa debt stabilising as reforms boost outlook
7th May 2026 By: Reuters

South Africa's improving fiscal performance and reform momentum should help government debt stabilise this year before gradually declining, Moody's Ratings said in a report dated Wednesday. Moody's... 


Image of Enoch Godongwana
ActionSA demands stability, DA vows accountability over CoJ ‘financial crisis’
6th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Following what ActionSA says is National Treasury’s confirmation of a financial crisis in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) , the party wants the municipality, the Gauteng provincial government, and... 


Image of Geordin Hill-Lewis
DA defends decision to take on NHI in ConCourt
6th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis argued on Wednesday that South Africa cannot build a sustainable healthcare system by centralising "enormous power, money, and decision-making" in a... 


Image of Buti Manamela
Parly committee demands end to NSFAS instability
5th May 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Parliament’s Higher Education Portfolio Committee expressed concerns with the repeated placement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme under administration, pleading with Higher Education... 


National Police Commissioner general Fannie Masemola
Opposition parties slams leadership instability following SAPS Commissioner’s suspension 
24th April 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

The Inkatha Freedom Party and ActionSA have expressed concerns with the growing leadership instability in the country’s security cluster, following the precautionary suspension of National Police... 


Image of Helen Zille
‘I'm fighting to fix Johannesburg, not the Middle East’ – Helen Zille
24th April 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

Despite facing intense criticism and scrutiny over her stance on foreign affairs, Democratic Alliance Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille has declared that her focus remains on fixing the... 


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