Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
4-minute read
06 February 2026

Political analyst Dr Imraan Buccus weighs in on the DA’s leadership shake-up, Helen Zille’s influence, and what it could mean for the party ahead of the 2026 local elections.

Political analyst Dr Imraan Buccus says the reported exit of Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is less about one individual and more about a party battling a serious internal crisis – with power struggles, factional tensions, and uncertainty ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Speaking to Radio Islam International during the ASRI Report, Buccus said the DA has long attempted to project itself as a party of “competence, efficiency” and cohesive leadership. However, recent developments suggest a party under strain.

Buccus believes the leadership change reinforces what many observers have long suspected that the real power in the DA sits with long-time party figure Helen Zille, rather than with the party leader. “I think so,” Buccus said, when asked whether this confirms Zille’s dominance in the party.

He explained that the DA appears to be operating with two centres of power, similar to what South Africans have often associated with the ANC. According to Buccus, the DA’s Federal Council now holds significant influence, possibly even more than in previous eras under Zille herself or former leader Tony Leon.

“There certainly are two centres of power in the DA. And much of that power lies with Helen Zille,” he said.

Buccus also reflected on whether Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis could expand the DA’s support or entrench its existing electoral base. While he said this is difficult to predict, he noted that Hill-Lewis is a very different figure from Steenhuisen and may bring new energy and a generational shift.

However, Buccus warned the DA remains burdened by long-standing criticism particularly that its governance success in the Western Cape largely benefits “the privileged class a white middle class,” while working-class communities continue to experience poorer service delivery. He acknowledged that under Hill-Lewis, the DA has spent “billions” in township areas, but said the party’s messaging of “Cape Town working” still rings hollow for many.

One of Buccus’ strongest critiques was that the DA has failed to meaningfully target the black middle class, which he described as rapidly growing and now larger than the white middle class. “There’s been an explosion there between five and seven million,” he said, adding that no party can succeed electorally in South Africa while relying primarily on the white vote.

Buccus was blunt about Hill-Lewis reportedly wanting to retain his mayorship while also taking over the party leadership. “I don’t think so,” he said, warning that the responsibilities of party leadership are too demanding, especially at a time when the DA is “at a critical juncture” and struggling to improve electorally.

He stressed the party needs full-time leadership focus, and that the Western Cape where the DA holds its strongest support also requires dedicated governance.

Buccus said the leadership change signals a “huge crisis” in the DA, including factional divides over the Government of National Unity (GNU) and how aggressively the DA should position itself against the ANC. While he stopped short of calling it outright panic, he said there are “concerns within the DA” and predicted further changes, including the likelihood that Zille will not remain federal chair indefinitely.

He said the DA remains a liberal party, and any ideological shift will likely be limited. However, he believes Hill-Lewis may bring a more socially conscious approach. “I see him more as a social democrat,” Buccus said, suggesting Hill-Lewis may be more open to increased spending in poorer and working-class communities a move that could reshape how the DA applies its liberal ideology.

The interview ended with discussion around Buccus’ book, Promises and Peril, The South African Crisis, where he reflects on corruption as a global structural issue. “Corruption is a global and often structural problem deeply connected to the global crisis of attacks on democracy and the rise of neoliberalism,” Buccus said, pointing to examples in Brazil, India, and the United States.

He added that corruption is not limited to the Global South, describing it as a “huge, huge problem” even in wealthier nations.

Listen to the full ASRI Report on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Habib Bobat and Dr Imraan Buccus.