DA leader John Steenhuisen said improving service delivery would be central to the party’s agenda in 2026, alongside job creation, public safety, and an intensified fight against corruption, as the country prepares for the upcoming local government elections.
In his New Year message, Steenhuisen said the outcome of the 2024 national and provincial elections had made possible the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU).
“South Africa now has a government of national unity, a coalition of various political parties representing a diverse South Africa,” he said.
Within the GNU, Steenhuisen said the Democratic Alliance remained committed to pushing for urgent reforms that would broaden opportunities for more citizens while intensifying efforts to combat crime and corruption.
He said that, despite the complexities of coalition governance, the party’s focus going into 2026 was unchanged.
“Our priority remains clear,” Steenhuisen said. “We need service delivery, jobs, safety, and to tackle corruption even harder.”
He added that these priorities were essential to restoring dignity, reducing poverty and opening opportunities for every South African.
Steenhuisen also highlighted the political significance of the year ahead, pointing to the 2026 local government elections as a decisive moment for the country’s democracy.
He said local government was the sphere where citizens most directly experienced the success or failure of the state, describing it as the level “where services succeed or fail, where communities either collapse or come back to life”.
Steenhuisen urged eligible voters, particularly young and first-time voters, to ensure they were registered and able to participate in the election.
“So I want to encourage every eligible voter, especially first-time voters, to check your registration. Make sure you’re registered where you live,” he said.
He said the previous election had shown how quickly political change could occur when voters turned out in large numbers.
“The last national and provincial election showed just how much things can change when South Africans stand together.
”Now we can bring that change to towns and cities all across South Africa, where residents suffer from failing service delivery,” he said.
Steenhuisen pointed to the DA’s record in the municipalities it governs as evidence that improvement was possible.
“The DA has shown everywhere that we govern that it doesn’t have to be the way that it is, and that communities, towns, and cities can come alive and thrive again,” he said.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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