By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
DA Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate, Mpho Phalatse. Picture: Nigel Sibanda.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected a proposed deal by opposition parties that would have seen ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba given the City of Johannesburg’s mayoral chain.
“Essentially,what we are being asked to do in Johannesburg, is what we did before. We’re being asked to put ActionSA at the head of a minority government that is dependent on the EFF to get 50% plus one of the votes,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen in a statement on Saturday.
He said putting together a minority coalition government in Johannesburg would be subject to the whims and demands of the EFF.
“Inevitably, the EFF tail will wag the coalition dog in Johannesburg. Some people argue that it’s worth taking this risk… We, in the DA, tried exactly this after the 2016 elections. Even Julius Malema, the leader of the EFF, acknowledged that Herman (when he was DA mayor) essentially became the EFF’s mayor.”
Steenhuisen said they promised voters they would not repeat this blunder.
“After our negotiation team reported back to Fedex (DA federal council), we considered their report and reaffirmed our resolve as follows… We will not go into chaotic minority coalitions that are dependent on the EFF to stay in power. We would rather be a principled, strong and effective opposition.”
On Monday, the DA will present its mayoral candidate Mpho Phalatse for election as Joburg mayor at the inaugural council meeting.
“The election result is different from 2016 in only one respect: in Tshwane, for the first time, we are able to put together an opposition coalition government that will have a clear majority of the seats.
On Tuesday, it will present its mayoral candidate in Tshwane, Randall Williams.
Meanwhile the ActionSA leader Mashaba said he has no ambition to don the city’s chain, but that his focus remains to keep the ANC out.
Mashaba was also not optimistic about garnering DA support for him to become mayor.
In a joint statement, the parties said: “The discussions were constructive, and the parties agreed that in the interest of the future of South Africa it is important to form stable governments which are serious about service delivery and arresting the decay of local government.”
The parties met on 15 November and, prior to Friday’s meeting, rumours of Mashaba running Joburg in exchange for a DA mayorship in Tshwane were rife.
The joint statement said in Tshwane the parties agreed to support the DA’s mayoral candidate and form a coalition government, but it was mum on Joburg, simply saying the parties will focus to keep the ANC out and form a minority government.