Patriotic AllianceIn the news
DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille.

Real Politics: Johannesburg is now or never for the DA

Why Johannesburg is the DA’s biggest test before Gauteng 2029

PA leader Gayton McKenzie.

Real Politics: The kingmakers holding metros to ransom

Small parties could sway who becomes mayor in SA's commercial hub

On South African lampposts election humour reaches pole position

Liewe Heksie, Flighty Katie and funny fake posters

The six metros sitting on an electoral knife edge

Who will win the battle?

Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Blue skies ahead for the DA in Cape Town?

The party is facing growing competition from the PA

Audio

PODCAST: ‘Sharp Sharp’ — The dark art of election polling

How to tell good research from bad numbers

The FF Plus gamble in Gugulethu

FF Plus takes aim at a broader voter base

NATASHA MARRIAN: A poll where everything is in play

No more safe seats in the 2026 local elections

Jacob Zuma.

Real Politics: Pay the party, or pay the price

The MK’s levy ultimatum to its leaders exposes how parties skim taxpayer-funded salaries

NATASHA MARRIAN: The messy politics of a maturing democracy

SA’s coalition era is democracy in action

The week ahead: ANC candidate crisis heads to court

Your political and economic calendar for the days to come

Battle of the blueprints for South Africa’s broken municipalities

The ANC and DA offer starkly contrasting manifestos on how to fix South Africa’s municipalities

Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza. Picture: GCIS/KOPANO TLAPE

Real Politics: The centre is holding – and must endure

The Didiza vote shows the GNU's centre is holding firm

PA leader Gayton McKenzie

Gayton’s green machine takes aim at the DA

The PA’s Western Cape breakthrough is gathering pace

Keep your enemies close: Can a Zille-Mashaba coalition save Jozi?

As the ANC's support crumbles in Johannesburg, the city faces a complex coalition future.

Dysfunction in Joburg.

NATASHA MARRIAN: What it takes to win Joburg

Joburg’s 2026 election could mark a historic DA breakthrough, but winning the city will depend on turnout, voter fragmentation and coalition arithmetic.