SA politics: Why ANC wants Tshwane city manager gone – Steenhuisen speaks out
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen
The political contest in Tshwane has once again come into sharp focus, as the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen stepped in to defend City Manager Johann Mettler against mounting calls for his dismissal.
The African National Congress (ANC) has been vocal in its insistence that Mettler’s appointment during the previous DA administration was irregular. However, the DA sees the push very differently. According to the party, Mettler is being targeted because of his role in preventing the ANC from misusing public funds.
Speaking to journalists in Tshwane, Steenhuisen questioned the motives behind the ANC’s determination to have Mettler removed. He argued that the push was not about irregularity but about undermining accountability:
“It is no wonder the ANC and ActionSA are trying so hard to get rid of Johann Mettler because they don’t want good and clean governance. They want to be able to steal,” he said.
The backdrop to these remarks was a significant moment for the DA in the capital city. Alongside his defence of Mettler, Steenhuisen officially announced Cilliers Brink as the party’s mayoral candidate for the upcoming local government elections.
Read also:
- South Africa’s police crisis deepens — DA pushes for urgent probe
- SA politics: Andile Lungisa sparks storm in ANC over NEC disbandment call
Brink is no stranger to the city’s leadership. He previously served as mayor for 18 months before being removed through a motion of no confidence last year. Despite that setback, Steenhuisen argued that Brink’s track record makes him the strongest candidate to once again lead Tshwane.
“He’s got the track record of delivering; he’s the person who did it from 2023 to 2024. The person who is going to do it again,” Steenhuisen said, emphasising Brink’s vision of a rising, rather than declining, Tshwane.
For the DA, defending Mettler’s position and putting forward Brink’s candidacy are both about a broader fight for what Steenhuisen describes as “good and clean governance.” With political fault lines deepening in the capital, the battle over leadership and accountability in Tshwane looks far from over.
