GOOD Party Rejects Cyril Ramaphosa’s Claim the DA Municipalities Are Well Run, South Africans Amused

• The GOOD Party's secretary, Brett Herron, rejected recent claims made by President Cyril Ramaphosa
• The president told councillors to take tips from some Democratic Alliance-led municipalities in the Western Cape
• South Africans took to social media to mock the GOOD Party's statement about the president's claims

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

WESTERN CAPE - The GOOD Party does not agree with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent comments.

The president sparked mixed reactions when he claimed that Democratic Alliance (DA)-led municipalities were well run and often outperformed those run by the African National Congress.

Ramaphosa made the statement at the Roll Call event at the FNB Stadium on 15 September 2025, telling ANC councillors that they could learn from the party. The comments made headlines and drew differing opinions, but the GOOD Party has rejected the president’s claims.

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Why don’t the party agree with the president?

While Ramaphosa mentioned the Stellenbosch and City of Cape Town municipalities were prime examples, as they have both achieved multiple consecutive clean audits, the GOOD Party argued that these municipalities were only better run for some people.

The GOOD Party’s secretary, Brett Herron, said that both municipalities were global benchmarks for inequality.

"It is true that DA-led municipalities obtain vastly superior audit results than ANC-led municipalities. But where do the benefits lie for millions of people in Cape Town who live in fear of their and their children’s lives due to the systemic gang violence?

“The environments in which these people live are breeding grounds for anti-social behaviour but are left undisturbed," he stated.

Herron added that this wasn’t just the gang violence that was a problem, as there were other examples of profound unfairness in Cape Town.

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He stated that South Africans deserved better than having to choose between a self-confessed party of looters and a party that uses clean audits as a selling point for its morality, while sustaining inequality.

Helen Zille makes light of Ramaphosa’s comment

While the GOOD Party is not happy with Ramaphosa’s statement, Helen Zille was loving it. The DA’s Federal Council Chairperson shared an image on X, depicting Ramaphosa running in DA-themed athletic wear.

Many social media users joked that Ramaphosa was campaigning for the DA with his comments, and Zille wasted no time in making light of it as well.

How did South Africans react to the GOOD Party’s comments?

Social media users found the GOOD Party’s criticism laughable, questioning whether it was complaining just for the sake of complaining.

Cathrine Par'e asked:

“Has Good ever left the Western Cape and come to Gauteng to compare? Or are they just complaining to complain?

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Bell David questioned:

“How does GOOD derive their findings, or is it just because they are in opposition? Who is GOOD anyway?”

Mark Daniels stated:

“Sadly, the GOOD are no good.”

Pieter Van Kraayenburg said:

“You mean good-for-nothing party.”

Richard Peebles added:

“Patrica De Lille is the last person who should be saying anything after the tourism debacle.”

Leon Solomons stated:

“GOOD is too good at complaining. The last kicks of a dying horse, shame.”

DA considered Motion of No Confidence against Ramaphosa

While Ramaphosa has praised the way the DA runs some of its municipalities, the party hasn't always been impressed with the president.

Briefly News reported that the party considered tabling a Motion of No Confidence in Ramaphosa in June 2025.

The party was playing around with the idea after Ramaphosa sacked Andrew Whitfield, but then decided to withdraw from the National Dialogue instead.

Source: Briefly News