Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
10 May 2024 | 07:00 CAT
2 min read

Controversy surrounds the Democratic Alliance (DA) as backlash intensifies over their recent online advertisement depicting the burning of the South African flag.

Despite criticism from Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa and condemnation from President Cyril Ramaphosa, DA leader John Steenhuisen stands firm, asserting the advert’s role in igniting vital societal discourse. As tensions rise, questions emerge regarding the DA’s approach to governance amidst the heated debate.

In an interview with Radio Islam, Professor Kealeboga J. Maphunye, who holds the position of professor and chair of the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA), offered his insights on the Democratic Alliance’s proficiency in governance. Maphunye delved into the ongoing debate surrounding the party’s effectiveness in governance.

Maphunye advises the public to pay attention to the voices and experiences of those who are governed by the Democratic Alliance in regions such as the Western Cape and the municipalities where the party holds power. By listening to the perspectives of residents and assessing the outcomes of DA governance in these areas, Maphunye suggests that a more informed evaluation of the party’s effectiveness can be achieved.

“If you go to certain places in the Western Cape, the impression you are likely to take from just those places, on the one hand, they are going to come up with a very rosy view about the fact that the DA is governing properly and performs the best, but it depends where you go. If you go into more rural areas, those experiences will be very different. You will see the other side of the poverty-stricken, marginalised people. This is where the metrics, which use only numbers and scales, won’t give a proper full picture of the quality of life,” he said.

Drawing on his expertise in comparative governance, Maphunye emphasises the importance of careful analysis when evaluating political entities. He cautions against simplistic comparisons, likening it to comparing apples to bananas. Instead, Maphunye stresses the necessity of comparing similar entities or situations—comparing “apples with apples”—to ensure a meaningful and accurate assessment of governance practices and outcomes.

He emphasised that for the Democratic Alliance (DA), should it hold governance, the primary challenge lies in effectively addressing issues like financial management and performance evaluation concerning the provision of services in areas where the majority of the population resides.

“They are attempting to turn the picture around to make sure they bring services to under-serviced areas,” he said.

Maphunye asserted that it’s essential to recognise that national political implications often intersect with provincial governance matters.

“It becomes difficult to compare the DA with the ANC because the DA is not governing at the national election. The comparison between the two is unwise,” he said.

LISTEN to the full interview, with Ml Sulaimaan Ravat and Professor Kealeboga J. Maphunye, here.

*Prof Maphunye has worked for the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).