{
  "id": 20107345,
  "title": "Ramaphosa's endorsement of the DA killed the ANC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/ramaphosas-endorsement-of-the-da-killed-the-anc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/ios/opinion/2026-11-15-ramaphosas-endorsement-of-the-da-killed-the-anc/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a pivotal moment for the ANC, President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly endorsed the Democratic Alliance (DA) at a rally in Soweto, stating that municipalities governed by the DA perform better than those controlled by the ANC. This bold statement, meant to motivate his party, backfired severely, leading to the decline of the ANC's political influence.\n\nFirstly, Ramaphosa's endorsement dismantled the ANC's long-standing narrative that the DA posed a threat of reinstating apartheid. The president's admission that the DA governs better directly contradicted this core message, causing the party's messaging to collapse.\n\nSecondly, the endorsement gave the DA a powerful asset - credibility. With Ramaphosa's backing, the DA gained acceptance among voters in traditionally ANC strongholds, as seen with the billboard campaign in Cape Town reading, \"Even President Ramaphosa agrees: Where the DA governs, South Africa works.\" The DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis also echoed Ramaphosa's endorsement, further bolstering the party's reputation.\n\nThirdly, the ANC's internal morale plummeted as councillors struggled to defend their wards when their president praised the opposition. Deputy President Paul Mashatile's attempts to distance the party from the remarks were met with skepticism, as the Auditor-General's audits confirmed Ramaphosa's claim, with many DA-run municipalities having clean audits.\n\nFinally, the endorsement liberated voters from the guilt of defecting from the ANC. For years, many black voters felt conflicted about voting for the DA due to the party's white majority. Ramaphosa's endorsement removed this internal conflict, allowing voters to support the DA without feeling disloyal to their president. This shift was evident in the 2026 local government elections, where voter turnout increased significantly and the DA gained a substantial lead over the ANC.\n\nUltimately, Ramaphosa's statement dealt a fatal blow to the ANC, transforming it from a party of authority into one of irrelevance. His candid endorsement not only exposed the ANC's weaknesses but also paved the way for the DA's rise, demonstrating that sometimes, truth can indeed be the most destructive weapon in politics.",
  "summary": "In an opinion column, Mbatha argues that Cyril Ramaphosa’s praise for DA-run municipalities weakened the ANC’s political message and gave the opposition invaluable ammunition.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}