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The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape welcomes the announcement of the first group of mayoral candidates, for the 2026 local government elections. The need for strong, accountable and transparent leadership is now more than ever needed, as many municipalities across the country struggle to perform even their most basic functions.

As revealed in a parliamentary reply, three municipalities are currently under financial administration, due to serious breaches of their financial obligations. These interventions were triggered by the most basic failure of governance: the inability to pay creditors.

Beaufort West, Kannaland and Theewaterskloof have all required provincial intervention after financial mismanagement pushed them into crisis.

In Beaufort West alone, more than R14.3 million has been spent since 2021 to stabilise the municipality through emergency grants, generators and water resilience funding. Kannaland, which has been plagued by years of instability and political infighting, has already cost the province over R10.1 million, despite its Financial Recovery Plan only being implemented in September 2025. Theewaterskloof has required over R5.4 million in support since late 2024, with its recovery process still in its earliest stages.

These figures represent money that should have gone to fixing roads, maintaining water infrastructure and improving basic services for residents. Instead, the provincial government is forced to step in to clean up the consequences of failed leadership, dysfunctional councils and coalition chaos.

Kannaland, in particular stands as a warning of what happens when municipalities are trapped in cycles of instability. The delay of nearly two years between intervention and the implementation of a recovery plan highlights how deeply embedded governance failure can become when there is no clear leadership and no accountability.

As the Western Cape heads toward the municipal elections, these interventions underline why leadership matters. Strong mayors, capable councils and stable administrations prevent crises before they occur. Weak leadership and fragile coalitions create municipalities that lurch from one emergency to the next, draining public resources and eroding trust.

The DA’s announcement of its mayoral candidates is a deliberate step to offer voters a clear alternative: competent, accountable local government focused on service delivery and financial sustainability.

Dave Bryant, MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, said: “Section 139 interventions are a direct consequence of political failure, and the numbers in this reply show just how expensive that failure has become. Millions of rands are being spent to stabilise municipalities that should never have been allowed to collapse in the first place.”

“As we head into the 2026 local government elections, the public must understand that coalition chaos and weak leadership come with a real price tag. The DA is putting forward candidates with the experience and credibility to fix municipalities, protect public money and deliver stable, functional local government.”

Issued by Dave Bryant, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning