South Africa's DA Sues ANC Over Pre-Election Speech by President Ramaphosa!

In Summary

• South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken the African National Congress (ANC) to court over a speech given by President Cyril Ramaphosa before the May election.
• The DA alleges that Ramaphosa used his presidential address for election campaigning, which they claim is an abuse of office.
• The DA has asked the Electoral Court to deduct 1% of the ANC’s vote, fine Ramaphosa $10,900, and the ANC $5,450.
• The ANC called the DA’s action “frivolous and unwarranted,” stating that the president was following the constitution.
• The ANC lost its majority in the recent election, leading to a coalition government, including the DA.

Pretoria, South Africa- South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) took legal action against the African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday over a pre-election speech given by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May.

This move signals early tension between the new coalition partners. The DA's court submission to the Electoral Court was made in May, before entering a coalition with the ANC, but the party decided to continue with the case.

The DA requested the court to deduct 1% of the ANC’s vote from the May 29 national election and to fine Ramaphosa $10,900 and his party $5,450.

The DA argues that Ramaphosa’s address, delivered three days before the election as head of state, was used for electioneering, highlighting ANC's successes, which they claim is an abuse of office and a violation of election rules.

The ANC dismissed the DA’s legal action as “frivolous and unwarranted,” asserting that Ramaphosa adhered to the constitution in his speech.

In the historic election, the ANC received only 40% of the vote, losing its long-held majority and leading to the formation of a coalition government.

The DA, which secured 21% of the vote, is now part of a seven-party coalition in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet, despite their history as the ANC’s main critics.

This coalition, termed a “government of national unity,” has reshaped South Africa’s political landscape, marking the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994 that the ANC has been forced to share power.

The collaboration between the left-leaning ANC and the centrist DA, given their ideological differences, was unexpected but has so far shown a united front.