The Democratic Alliance, at our Sol Plaatje closing rally in Kimberley today, called on residents to reject years of ANC failure and vote to restore a city on the verge of collapse.
Sol Plaatje has become a municipality crippled by ANC factionalism and political infighting, while residents pay the price. From one ward to the next, Kimberley is deteriorating under a municipality that has failed to maintain basic services, protect infrastructure and uphold public spaces.
Now, just days before the election, the municipality is scrambling to patch potholes. Residents know better than to be fooled by last-minute fixes that will wash away with the next rain. They have waited months for streetlights to be repaired and overgrown areas cleared, leaving communities vulnerable to crime. Vandalism and cable theft continue to cripple infrastructure, while water and sewage failures add to their daily misery.
Neglected pavements, obscured stop signs and weak by-law enforcement further undermine public safety and dignity.
Kimberley does not have to remain unsafe, neglected and broken. We can restore reliable services and its cleanliness, safety and pride, and rebuild a city where families can live with dignity and businesses can thrive.
Our mayoral candidate, Heinrich Pieterse, is ready to lead that change by ending the chaos, restoring order and building a municipality that works and a city that works for all.
Throughout the 2026 Local Government Election campaign, the DA has engaged record numbers of residents across Sol Plaatje and the Northern Cape. We have heard their frustration, witnessed their struggles and worked hard to earn their trust. Now, our focus is on turning that support into votes.
With just over a week to go, we urge residents to hold the ANC accountable at the ballot box and to remember that a fragmented opposition risks allowing the ANC to cling to power, prolonging Sol Plaatje’s decline.
Kimberley is worth fighting for. Its decline is not inevitable and its future is not beyond saving. This election is every voters’ chance to turn the page on ANC failure, and restore safety, services, jobs and pride in our capital city.