Also known as: Democratic Alliance (DA)
South Africa's second-largest opposition party, currently led by Geordin Hill-Lewis as of April 2026, participating in the coalition government.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
The Democratic Alliance has had share of vote stuck at approximately 20% since 2014
“Since the 2014 general election its share of the vote has been stuck at 20% or thereabouts.”
Can this man broaden the appeal of a South African party seen by some as ‘too white'?The Namibian
Democratic Alliance lodged an application in April last year
“This decision was prompted by an application lodged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in April last year.”
Western Cape High Court strikes down finance minister's unconstitutional tax powersThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance fielded Helen Zille as Johannesburg mayoral candidate
“the main race for Johannesburg's mayor is now between him and the DA candidate, Helen Zille.”
As the ANC self-immolates, Zille and Mashaba seize race for Joburg’s futureThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance secured six ministerial posts in President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet
“The DA secured six ministerial posts in President Cyril Ramaphosa's cabinet, with Steenhuisen holding the agriculture portfolio.”
How the tide turned against the leader of South Africa's second-biggest partyThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance is set to hold its national federal congress in April
“The DA is set to hold its national federal congress in April, where Steenhuisen was expected to contest against Western Cape premier Alan Winde, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi.”
John Steenhuisen to withdraw from DA's leadership raceThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance is heading into a leadership contest tearing at its seams leadership contest tearing at its seams
“The Democratic Alliance (DA) is heading into a leadership contest that is already tearing at its seams, with senior figures warning that the outcome may further divide a party struggling to reconcile its internal battles, its role in the government, and its claim to moral high ground.”
DA battles internal fractures amid Zille's influence and GNU challengesThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance challenged state's funding of Zuma's private legal costs
“The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's main opposition party, took the bold step of challenging the state's funding of Zuma's private legal costs, which over time had ballooned beyond R30 million.”
Zuma’s legal bill nightmareThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance have condemned Operation Dudula
“Several major political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance, have also condemned Operation Dudula.”
‘We have to prioritise South Africans': Anti-migrant movement blocks foreigners from healthcareThe Namibian
The Democratic Alliance has demanded court martial for General Maphwanya
“He would not comment on the possibility of a court martial, which the Democratic Alliance has demanded.”
President Ramaphosa to meet SANDF chief over ‘ill-advised’ visit to IranThe Namibian
Democratic Alliance has advocated scrapping the public-interest clauses in the Competition Act
“The DA, South Africa's main opposition party-turned-coalition partner, has advocated scrapping the public-interest clauses in the Competition Act, arguing that they have allowed for the politicisation of antitrust actions.”
South Africa’s Elites Are Jeopardising Its DemocracyPresident Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will pursue a judicial review of a Section 89 independent panel report that could lead to his impeachment over the Phala Phala saga. The Constitutional Court cleared the path for a public impeachment hearing into Ramaphosa's conduct on 8 May.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will pursue a judicial review of a Section 89 independent panel report that could lead to his impeachment over the Phala Phala saga. The Constitutional Court cleared the path for a public impeachment hearing into Ramaphosa's conduct on 8 May.
12 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A Constitutional Court ruling has forced Parliament to consider impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations concerning US dollars stolen from his home. However, analysis suggests it is unlikely he will be removed from office, as a two-thirds majority of MPs would be required and the ANC's interests appear to align with his remaining in power.
11 May 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that parliament violated the constitution by blocking moves to impeach president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022, following a legal challenge by Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters and others. The ruling could result in fresh impeachment proceedings; Ramaphosa's office says he respects the judgement and reaffirms his commitment to the constitution and rule of law.
9 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The National Freedom Party has expelled its sole representative in the KZN legislature, Mbali Shinga, after she defied party leadership to vote against a motion of no confidence in Premier Thami Ntuli in December, preventing the MK party from seizing control of the province.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The ANC has given its members who also belong to the SACP a 10-day deadline to declare which party they will campaign for in local elections, after the SACP announced it would contest independently. The move highlights tensions within the historically intertwined alliance and poses practical complications for senior figures like SACP chairperson Blade Nzimande and ANC Chair Gwede Mantashe, both of whom hold ministerial positions.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Geordin Hill-Lewis, 39, has become leader of South Africa's second-largest Democratic Alliance party, tasked with extending its support beyond its predominantly white and minority voter base to the black majority who make up about 80% of the population. Hill-Lewis has acknowledged a "trust deficit" and says winning the trust of more black South Africans will be his main focus, supported by a more diverse and younger senior leadership team than his predecessors.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Ramaphosa's comments suggesting retention of Johannesburg's current mayor signal possible ANC plans to impose a national candidate on the region, while the party's recent march focused on defending national sovereignty appears designed to shift campaign messaging away from local service delivery failures to broader anti-Trump and liberation movement themes.
23 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A data leak reviewed by Forbidden Stories reveals that Russian influence agents engaged in covert operations during South African election campaigns between 2019 and 2025, including secret meetings with ANC leadership, smear campaigns against opposition parties, and fabricated documents. The Company, a network run by Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, allocated significant budgets for online disinformation campaigns and paid social media influencers to target political opponents.
19 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Western Cape High Court declared that South Africa's VAT Act unconstitutionally delegates tax-setting authority to the finance minister, a power that must rest with parliament. Judge Matthew Francis ruled that parliament has 24 months to remedy the constitutional defect, with the current VAT rate to remain in effect unless parliament itself amends the law.
8 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian's analysis of Mosiuoa Lekota, who died on Wednesday, argues that his role in forming the Congress of the People in 2008 was equally vital to his anti-apartheid activism. By breaking the ANC's political dominance, Cope's 1.3 million votes prevented Zuma's government from securing a two-thirds majority, shifted South African politics from racial to policy-based competition, and inspired the formation of other parties including the EFF and ActionSA, fundamentally changing the country's democratic trajectory.
5 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The race for Johannesburg's mayor is now dominated by DA candidate Helen Zille and ActionSA president Herman Mashaba, with the ANC yet to name a candidate and facing declining support in the city. Infrastructure failures and declining voter turnout in traditional ANC strongholds like Soweto have reshaped the political landscape ahead of local elections expected in late November 2026.
23 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The ANC in Gauteng is weakened by service delivery failures, corruption, and entrenched factionalism among regional leaders, leaving the party unable to arrest its decline before local elections. With a minority government vulnerable to no-confidence votes, the party may resort to horse-trading with opposition parties to pass budgets, perpetuating extraction and undermining governance.
23 February 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance and agriculture minister in the coalition government, announced he will step down at the party's April congress following multiple scandals including poor handling of foot-and-mouth disease, personal financial mismanagement, and controversy over the sacking of Environment Minister Dion George. His departure opens the way for successors including Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation Address employed careful political calculations to address diverse constituencies—including populists demanding military intervention, ANC loyalists seeking preservation of state ownership, free-marketeers wanting private sector participation, and others—while deliberately omitting topics like the Expropriation Act and farm murders that might alienate coalition partners. The speech also downgraded previous priorities like the Fourth Industrial Revolution in favour of green economy rhetoric, and reduced the urgency around gender-based violence despite its earlier treatment as a national emergency.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen announced he will not seek re-election for a third term, stating his focus must shift to combating foot-and-mouth disease as agriculture minister. Minister Dean Macpherson praised Steenhuisen's decision as showing "remarkable political intuition and maturity," while potential successors including Macpherson and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis position themselves ahead of the party's April elective congress, with nominations opening on 27 February.
6 February 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen's decision to step down as Democratic Alliance leader follows revelations about his personal credit card debt and the controversial removal of environment minister Dion George. The incoming leader must navigate questions about race, the party's electoral strategy, and its relationship with the ANC government—while protecting the DA's core claim to integrity that distinguishes it from other parties.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
John Steenhuisen, leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance, is being forced to announce he will not seek a third term as party leader, with the decision framed as his own choice to focus on his Agriculture minister portfolio. In exchange, he is permitted to retain his ministerial post, though party insiders say the decision was driven by internal pressure, an FLC investigation into his conduct, and concerns that his controversies—including credit card debt and perceived mishandling of a cattle crisis—could damage the party's prospects in upcoming local elections.
4 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Reports indicate that Democratic Alliance federal leader John Steenhuisen will announce he will not contest in the party's leadership race at its April national federal congress, withdrawing from competition against Western Cape premier Alan Winde, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and communications minister Solly Malatsi.
3 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Democratic Alliance is heading into a leadership contest marked by deep internal tensions over its participation in the Government of National Unity, the outsized influence of federal council chairperson Helen Zille, and broader questions of party identity and inclusivity. The departure of former MP Dion George—who accused the party of lacking transparency—has exposed a climate of fear and accusations that the DA practices internally the opposite of the values it preaches nationally.
25 January 2026 · The Namibian →
The MK Party, which won 37 of 80 seats in the 2024 KwaZulu-Natal elections, says it is preparing another motion of no confidence against Premier Thami Ntuli, claiming it can improve service delivery on unemployment, poverty, crime, and water challenges if it takes control of the province.
20 January 2026 · The Namibian →