Has the DA gone woke?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is central pillar of the “woke” movement because it replaces standards with loyalty and slop. Claiming to fight for “justice”, “equity” or “inclusion” (among other coded words) gives moral immunity to those who advance this agenda.

In woke public displays of virtue can be used to evade accountability. This creates a perverse incentive: attach one’s ambitions to so-called “justice” causes and, in doing so, secure a degree of immunity from consequences. The end is a drop in standards and slop.

When ideology (such as DEI) becomes a substitute for high standards, accountability weakens and the slop spreads. History offers many reminders. In the 20th century, authoritarian regimes such as National Socialism, Stalinism and Maoism incentivised loyalty over competence. Advancement followed ideological conformity rather than performance, to predictable economic and institutional decline. Chaos.

Why is this important to the Democratic Alliance (DA)? Because back in 2021, Helen Zille published a book titled #Stay Woke Go Broke. At the time, I was encouraged that a politician would openly challenge the woke movement.

But looking at what the DA does today, they seem to be embracing exactly what that book warned against. On their website, they repeatedly use the word “diversity.” In fact it is now one of their values and principles. By aligning themselves in this way with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the DA has clearly gone woke.

I believe this is a grave mistake for the DA. By committing to DEI, the DA is setting Cape Town, and any region under its influence like Johannesburg, on a path toward decline. There are serious negative consequences tied to DEI. A compelling example is the state of U.S. universities today as Victor Hansen says, “Universities are making themselves not just disliked and disreputable but ultimately irrelevant and replaceable.”

In going woke, the DA will make itself disliked, disreputable, and ultimately irrelevant and replaceable.

If the DA’s current direction continues, their vision for Cape Town will lead us all downward. That’s why I think we should vote against the DA in the 2026 election. But more than that: we need to organize ourselves and build structures outside of the current political system. Because this system is narrowing, acting unethically, and no longer truly serves our communities’ interests.