Cyril Ramaphosa Backtracks on DA Praise, Says Comments "Got Lost in Translation"

(JOHANNESBURG) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been forced to clarify his remarks after praising the Democratic Alliance (DA), a move that ignited fierce criticism from within his own African National Congress (ANC) and provided ammunition to his chief political rival.

The controversy began earlier this week when President Ramaphosa, in a surprising moment of candor, suggested that the ANC risked losing further voter support unless it learned from better-run municipalities led by the DA. He specifically pointed to Cape Town as an example, stating, “We need to ask ourselves what is it that they are doing that is better than what we are doing... It hurts me deeply.”

"Lost in Translation": The President's Clarification

The comments drew immediate backlash from ANC factions, who saw it as conceding ground to the opposition. In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corp. (SABC) on Thursday, President Ramaphosa walked back his statements, claiming his message had been misinterpreted.

“Maybe you can say it got lost in translation. In the end, we must all learn from each other,” he told the public broadcaster. “I should have talked about the full equation.”

The President clarified that while the DA-run councils might receive clean audits—a point of administrative efficiency—it “does not mean clean streets.” He emphasized that for the ANC, good governance must also include “transformation, [and the] improvement of the lives of our people.”

Political Rival Seizes the Moment

Despite the President's attempt to reframe his comments, DA leader John Steenhuisen was quick to capitalize on the initial praise. In a statement, he claimed “Ramaphosa, in his capacity as ANC president, acknowledged publicly that where the DA governs, it delivers.”

The public disagreement highlights the delicate balancing act President Ramaphosa faces. He is navigating a fragile coalition government formed after the ANC lost its outright majority in the 2024 elections. His initial comments were a stark warning to his party about growing public frustration over poor service delivery, which he fears could cost the ANC dearly in the upcoming 2026 municipal elections.

The episode underscores the deep internal and external pressures on the ANC as it adapts to its new reality as a party that can no longer govern alone.