This is according to the DA's Eastern Cape’s leader Nqaba Bhanga, who said this was also evidenced by a poor showing of attendees two hours after the event was supposed to begin at 09:00.  

"The ANC is dead... South Africans are readying themselves for a future without the ANC," he said.  The Presidency initially sent out an advisory on Friday saying that Zuma would launch the campaign at the Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale campus.

However, in a brief statement at around 10:30 on Saturday morning, the Presidency said Zuma would now be represented at the launch by the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu.

The DA Eastern Cape leader said the 2016 Local Government Elections ushered in a new beginning and a new, DA-led, coalition government in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Bhanga's comments follow an earlier statement from the office of mayor Athol Trollip, bemoaning the fact that the municipality had been excluded from the event.

Trollip’s chief of staff, Kristoff Adelbert, said the municipality had been prevented from having meaningful participation in the proceedings.

"The president, minister in the presidency and social development MEC have to date only requested law enforcement support and access to facilities, which we gladly provided during this important programme."Yet it seems that information and logistics regarding the actual events, their programming and specific involvement therein have excluded the city administration," he said. Trollip has been campaigning ahead of a motion of no-confidence against him at the next council meeting, which takes place on Thursday. 

News24