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ANC slams DA for ‘political opportunism’ after Ramaphosa praises DA-led municipalities The African National Congress (ANC) has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of political opportunism after President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that some of South Africa’s best-run municipalities are governed by the DA. Ramaphosa, speaking to over 40,000 ANC councillors at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on 15 September, described it as “painful” to admit that DA-led municipalities, including Cape Town and Stellenbosch, are performing better in governance and service delivery. He urged the ANC to learn from these municipalities to improve its own standards. The DA welcomed the president’s remarks, calling them validation of their governance model and using the opportunity to critique the ANC’s municipal performance. The ANC, however, dismissed the DA’s reaction as opportunistic, highlighting ongoing tensions between the parties as South Africa approaches the 2026 municipal elections.