VF Plus and DA: A Struggle for Unity or Division?

Democracy is a powerful thing. It’s not easy, it’s not always smooth, but it is the foundation upon which a nation is built. And in South Africa, a country rich in diversity, culture, and history, we see that same principle playing out today between the VF Plus and the DA.

Dr. Pieter Groenewald, leading the VF Plus, is facing a challenge—not just from the other side of the aisle, but from within the very system he’s trying to build alliances in. Helen Zille, the DA’s federal council chair, has come out strong, accusing VF Plus councillors in the Western Cape of working with the ANC. Now, in any democracy, you’re going to have disagreements. You’re going to have moments where one party doesn’t see eye to eye with another. That’s okay—that’s healthy. What’s not okay is when these disagreements turn into something divisive. And that’s what we’re seeing here.

The situation in Swellendam, where VF Plus councillor Juan van Schalkwyk was accused of siding with the ANC in a vote of no confidence against DA Mayor Francois du Rand, has only deepened the rift. Mayor du Rand survived, but the damage to trust? That’s going to take time to repair. And this isn’t the first time a coalition between VF Plus and DA has broken down. We saw it happen in Oudtshoorn and Langeberg. It’s like we’re seeing the same story repeat itself over and over again.

But here’s the thing—Helen Zille didn’t stop there. At the Woordfees, she took aim at smaller parties like the VF Plus, saying voters should’ve backed the DA to make them the biggest party in Gauteng. Now, I understand the argument. In a democracy, parties are always trying to grow their base. But we can’t forget that democracy is about choice. It’s about people having the freedom to choose the party that represents them best. You don’t get stronger by diminishing others. You get stronger by listening to every voice, no matter how small.

And Dr. Groenewald? He’s not backing down. He’s rightfully standing firm. He and John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, have been working to build a coalition, to find a way forward together. That’s the kind of leadership that moves a country forward—finding common ground, even when it’s hard. But Zille’s words, her accusations? They’re throwing up roadblocks, creating division where there should be unity.

When Zille calls VF Plus councillors “rogue,” what she’s really doing is stirring the pot. And we know, that when you stir the pot too much, you create chaos. You create disorder. And democracy, true democracy, thrives on order. It thrives on collaboration. So, we’ve got to ask ourselves, what’s the goal here? Is it to tear each other down, or is it to build something stronger together?

Zille says the DA is the only party that can govern. But that’s not the way democracy works. The VF Plus has earned its place, and it represents the interests of the Afrikaner community—a community that has a voice, that deserves to be heard. Democracy isn’t about one party ruling everything. It’s about multiple voices coming together to make a nation stronger.

So here’s what I see: Pieter Groenewald understands the importance of standing for his principles, but he also understands the power of partnership. And that’s the future of democracy. It’s not about eliminating the competition, it’s about finding ways to work together to serve the people. That’s how you build a nation that’s resilient, that’s fair, that’s just.

Because at the end of the day, the struggle between the VF Plus and the DA isn’t just about politics. It’s about the future of South Africa, the future of its democracy. And as we’ve seen time and again, when leaders are willing to come together, when they put the people first, that’s when real progress happens. That’s when hope turns into action. That’s when democracy works.

And that’s the kind of future we should all be fighting for. A future where every voice counts, where every choice matters, and where we stand stronger together than we do apart.