By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
100% of votes has been tallied in Johannesburg, the metro is hung with both the ANC and DA failing to get a majority in the metro. Both political parties have seen a decline in numbers compared to 2016.
The ANC has 91 seats with 33,60%, a decline from 121 seats in 2016.The DA has 71 seats with 26,14% of the votes. The party has lost 33 seats from 2016 where it held 104 seats and 38,41%.The biggest winner in Johannesburg is ActionSA with the party securing 44 seats.
It’s the third biggest party in the metro at 16,05%. It’s followed by the EFF which lost one seat from 2016. The red berets have 29 seats and 10,63%.
EFF leader Julius Malema has outlined the party’s demands as coalition talks take centre stage following the municipal elections on Monday.
Malema has opened the door to his party participating in coalition governments in municipalities around the country, saying it is willing to “listen” ahead of the start of the horse-trading.
The EFF has found itself in the potential kingmaker’s seat in a number of municipalities and metro councils — including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and eThekwini — after taking 885 seats and 10.32% of the vote nationally in this week’s local government elections.
Malema said the party would also be prepared to remain in opposition and vote for a city government in return for an agreement to implement policies and programmes, rather than for positions.
He said he was “the happiest man” that the ANC had been “humbled” by securing less than 50% of the vote.
Malema said the EFF had continued on its growth trajectory, gaining seats in every election since it was launched. “Even when major political parties are declining, the EFF stands firm and grows. The EFF canvasses new ground. The EFF has now demonstrated that it is not a tribalist organisation, [but] a serious.
The Patriotic Alliance has also made gains having competed for the first time. The PA has 8 seats, while the IFP has 7 and the FF-Plus has four.
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Video Courtesy of SABC.