Overview

• After urging ANC councillors to study DA‑run cities like Cape Town and Stellenbosch based on auditor‑general outcomes, Cyril Ramaphosa told SABC he was referring to audit compliance rather than superior governance.
• In the interview he said clean audits do not guarantee service improvements, added that he should have explained the “full equation” of compliance and transformation, and argued that DA councils could learn from ANC municipalities on social change.
• His initial comments angered ANC councillors and senior leaders, who warned the praise risked boosting the DA ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
• The DA welcomed the opening for policy learning, with spokesperson Willie Aucamp saying the party would gladly work with ANC‑governed municipalities to improve service delivery.
• Analysts and alliance partners said the moment demands ANC introspection and noted that better audit scores in DA areas reflect unequal resource bases, while townships such as Khayelitsha and Manenberg still face deep service and poverty challenges.