By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ActionSA has withdrawn a motion of no confidence in Johannesburg Executive Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, claiming sabotage.
The motion of no confidence in Gwamanda was meant to take place in a council meeting this week.
Democratic Alliance (DA) refused to accept a deal to give the Patriotic Alliance (PA) two seats in the mayoral committee to vote with their coalition.
The decision not to support rekindling a coalition arrangement involving the PA meant the motion against Gwamanda would fail.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont blamed the DA’s unwillingness to negotiate as the primary reason why the motion would probably not go ahead.
The motion was seen as the first test for the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa in its mission to keep the ANC and EFF out of government.
The DA, ActionSA, FF-Plus, IFP and three other parties signed a deal two weeks ago which irons out a plan to co-govern in 2024, and keep ANC and the EFF from power if the ANC dips below 50% in the polls.
Beaumont said the DA had gone back on its commitment to do everything possible to keep the ANC from power.
“At the sidelines of the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, leaders of the IFP, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, and DA discussed Johannesburg, and the DA committed itself to talks in the following week ahead of the motion of no confidence.”
Gauteng chairperson Fred Nel defended the party’s decision.
He said the Joburg Council has been “besieged” by at least four motions of no confidence since it was installed in 2021.
Beaumont added that they would engage the DA to understand how their refusal to support the motion should be understood in the broader context of removing the African National Congress from power in 2024.
Gwamanda was elected as mayor earlier this year to replace fellow Al Jama-ah member Thapelo Amad.
Johannesburg is one of several hung municipalities left with no majority, meaning coalition formations have grappled with the council’s agenda several times since the elections.