The DA has created a ‘tokoloshe’ to scare voters

Political expert Moeletsi Mbeki has dismissed the DA’s ‘doomsday coalition’ campaign, saying it keeps the ANC and its bad policies in power.

He shared his views on South Africa’s government of national unity and the political current landscape in a Truth Report interview.

“Under ANC rule, the country was getting poorer, and unemployment increased significantly. That is why the ANC got voted out,” he said.

However, despite dropping to 40% in the 2024 national elections, the ANC remained in power through a government of national unity (GNU).

“The ANC is kept relevant in power by the DA. The DA is taking a huge gamble by propping up the ANC so it can continue with its failed policies,” he said.

He dismissed the DA’s campaign against a ‘Doomsday Coalition’ between the ANC, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

“The day an ANC-EFF government takes over, it will be Doomsday for South Africa. EFF Doomsday will make the collapse of Zimbabwe look like a dress rehearsal,” the DA said.

Mbeki argued that this coalition was unlikely because the EFF wants to destroy the ANC and because of bad blood between the ANC and MK.

He said that the DA’s ‘Doomsday Coalition’ was fearmongering, similar to the tradional beliefs in the ‘tokoloshe’.

“I am from the Eastern Cape. We have something called a tokoloshe, which we are terrified of. It is a horrible creature capable of horrific deeds,” he said.

“That’s what the EFF is to the DA. It’s a tokoloshe to the DA. The ANC can never work with the EFF because the EFF wants to destroy the ANC.”

He said the EFF broke away from the ANC because the EFF tried to force it to do things it didn’t want to do.

“That’s also why Jacob Zuma’s MK party left the ANC and set up its own party. They can never work together,” he said.

He said that the DA’s warning about a Doomsday Coalition is fictitious. “It’s like the Xhosa people’s belief in the tokoloshe. It doesn’t exist,” he said.

“But at least the Xhosa people have finally realised that this thing is a myth, that it doesn’t exist, and they’ve gotten on with life.”

Mbeki urged the DA to be more demanding on the ANC through its power in the government of national unity.

“The DA has to say to the ANC: Let’s agree on new policies. We can work together in the Government of National Unity,” he said.

He said that the November 2026 local government elections will likely show continued voter rejection of the ANC.

This, Mbeki said, would give the DA an opportunity to demand real policy leadership rather than playing a passive role in government.