DA’s Motion Is Political Theatre, Lesufi Delivers Results in Gauteng 

Opinion By Siyabonga Skosana 

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is under attack, not because he has failed, but because he has acted decisively where others would have hesitated. The DA’s motion of no confidence is less about governance and more about political grandstanding. Meanwhile, Lesufi’s record in Gauteng demonstrates leadership, results, and a willingness to tackle entrenched problems head-on.

The timing and framing of the motion reveal its true purpose: to generate headlines, destabilise an ANC-led minority government, and score electoral points. Critics brand Lesufi’s crime-fighting initiatives and proactive policies as “chaos” or “gimmicks,” yet offer no credible alternatives. Motions of no confidence should target genuine governance failures — not be used as tools for theatrical point-scoring.

By attacking the Premier for deploying wardens to curb rising crime, the DA ignores context: Gauteng’s urban population faces real safety pressures, and conventional policing alone is insufficient. Rather than acknowledge a pragmatic, albeit imperfect, initiative, the opposition weaponises it for political gain. The message is clear: the DA prioritises optics over outcomes.

Despite opposition noise, Lesufi’s administration has achieved measurable progress:

• Job creation: Gauteng added over 115,000 jobs between 2023 and 2024, contributing significantly to national employment growth.
  
  

• Crime prevention: Strategic deployment of wardens, coupled with partnerships with SAPS, has strengthened community safety in high-risk areas.
  
  

• Education transformation: As former MEC for Education, Lesufi oversaw reforms that improved access and learning outcomes across the province.
  
  

• Economic growth and investment: Proactive international engagement has attracted trade and investment opportunities, positioning Gauteng as a hub for economic development.
  
  

These achievements underline a leadership style focused on results, not political appeasement. Lesufi’s approach is proactive, tackling systemic problems rather than playing it safe for political expediency.

Lesufi consistently chooses the harder path: implementing innovative solutions, confronting systemic challenges, and prioritising the public interest over media headlines. The DA’s motion, in contrast, is a distraction — designed to generate media noise and create the illusion of concern while offering no solutions. True accountability is measured in results, transparency, and lawfulness, not political theatre.

Lesufi did not create crises; he mitigated them. He did not ignore governance; he enforced it. And he did not allow politics to dictate action; he prioritised the people of Gauteng. The DA’s motion is grandstanding masquerading as oversight — a spectacle aimed at scoring points rather than delivering solutions.

If governance is measured by outcomes, decisive action, and protecting public interests, Lesufi’s record speaks for itself

Siyabonga Skosana 

is an Independent Writer and Social Commentator