Helen Zille Throws Punches at ANC After Party Scraps Mayoral Candidate Announcement

• DA's Helen Zille called out the ANC on X with a boxing cartoon showing her facing an empty corner labelled with ANC flags
• The ANC confirmed it scrapped plans to announce mayoral candidates for eight metros, saying it would consult the public first
• With local elections approaching, Dada Morero and Loyiso Masuku are expected to be front runners for the ANC in Johannesburg

SOUTH AFRICA - Helen Zille is not waiting for the ANC to find its footing. The Democratic Alliance's Johannesburg mayoral candidate went on the offensive this week, posting a cartoon on her X account that showed her standing in a boxing ring across from a corner draped in ANC flags and completely empty.

The banner on the corner read: "Empty corner, empty promises, empty courage."

The post landed as a direct dig at the ANC's decision to scrap its planned mayoral candidate announcement. The party had been expected to unveil candidates for eight metros and 44 district municipalities at the Sandton International Convention Centre, but pulled back at the last minute.

Read also

ANC’s Thandi Moraka appeals to voters to give party another chance, South Africans not impressed

ANC says consultation comes first

NEC member Mzwandile Masina was quick to push back against any suggestion the party was in disarray. He insisted there was no crisis and that stepping back from the announcement was a deliberate choice. The ANC, he said, wants to consult the public on the people being considered for mayoral positions before making anything official.

Zille had already responded to the news after Gwede Mantashe made the original announcement about the change of plans. Her boxing cartoon followed as a pointed visual summary of her view on the matter.

Of the major parties contesting the upcoming elections, the ANC remains the only one yet to name its candidates. Dada Morero and Loyiso Masuku are widely tipped as front runners for the Johannesburg mayoral position.

Mzansi reacts to Zille's post

South Africans on X had plenty to say in response to Zille's post.

View post here:

@Oros_Mnisi wrote:

Read also

“This is childish”: KZN foreign shop owner forced to close store during anti-immigration march

"The other parties' candidates are not worth your time and energy? 😭🤭"

@Patriot_Girll said:

"🤦‍♀️, we are dealing with serious issues, go fix western cape black communities"

@KingMaveric1 asked:

"You want them one by one or all at once?"

@XolaniMamkeli weighed in:

"They are scared"

@msyphoz added:

"We are waiting for that tko"

DA slams ANC election manifesto

Briefly News reported that the Democratic Alliance has rejected the ANC's newly launched local government election manifesto, describing its municipal turnaround commitments as unconvincing and lacking credibility. The ANC unveiled its manifesto over the weekend ahead of the 4 November Local Government Elections, setting out plans to improve service delivery and stabilise struggling municipalities across the country. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said voters were being asked to place their trust in the very party responsible for the deterioration of local government.

Source: Briefly News