DA Federal Council Chairperson Ashor Sarupen has hit back at ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula’s criticism of the DA’s newly launched election manifesto, arguing that the ANC's reliance on “outdated ideological labels exposes its inability to challenge the DA’s substantive local government plans”.

Following the DA's launch of its local government manifesto, ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, Mbalula took to social media to pan the policy document.

Mbalula labelled the DA’s platform a "Thatcherite" manifesto, accusing the party of aiming to privatise the State.

He further noted that the DA’s inclusion in the current Government of National Unity (GNU) was merely a byproduct of the ANC losing its outright majority.

Sarupen dismissed the remarks as a weak "tantrum", stating that the ANC has no real defence for its own record of failed governance.

Sarupen further argued that South African citizens are tired of “liberation-era slogans” and are instead desperate for functioning basic services, such as refuse removal and water.

The clash seemingly stems from the DA’s manifesto laying out the inclusion of the private sector in doling out basic services in municipalities.

Sarupen pointed out that the ANC already relies on private sector participation to prevent total service collapse in municipalities it governs, such as Mafube and KwaDukuza.

The DA rationalised that while the State should deliver services efficiently where it can, it must partner with businesses and communities to achieve faster, better-value results.

"That is not ‘Thatcherism’," Sarupen hit back. "It is called governing."

He also noted Mbalula’s comment regarding the DA’s presence in the GNU.

"Perhaps the most revealing part of Mbalula’s statement... is his admission that the DA is in the Government of National Unity because of the 'collapse of the ANC majority.' On that, at least, we agree," Sarupen said.

He argued that those millions of voters abandoned the ANC because the ruling party confused State ownership with State capacity.

Sarupen declared that while the ANC “wastes time” debating 1980s British politics, the DA is focused on getting South Africa's broken municipalities working again.