The ANC’s coalition in Ekurhuleni is facing another test after the party backed and won the speaker’s position in the region against the EFF’s candidate — ensuring thatDora Mlamboemerged the winner. Though Mlambo vowed to embrace multiparty democracy in the council, the ANC’s coalition with the EFF hangs in the balance. Speaking to the Sunday Times, EFF Gauteng chairperson and former finance MMC Nkululeko Dunga accused the ANC of going against the principles upon which the coalition was established.
“The agreement of the establishment of co-governance remains the same, hence we have submitted a candidate. It is the ANC who are contesting their own resolutions by submitting a candidate to contest the EFF,” he said. “It must be noted that the EFF has not disrupted any governance but it is the ANC who wants to continue to change the conditions of agreements on platforms such as legislatures and councils.” The resignation of former speaker, the EFF’sNthabiseng Tshivhenga, reportedly on the orders of her own party, left the seat up for grabs.
We were prepared to receive any outcome whether for or against the ANC because we embrace democracy. Of course for some reason the outcome was favourable to the ANC and we obviously welcome that as a sign of confidence in the leadership of the ANC Despite Dunga availing himself for the position, the ANC fielded their own candidate who went up against the DA’sLucky Dinake. Early predictions placed the DA as victors, resulting from the public spat between the ANC and EFF — but minority parties, which are kingmakers, resolved to back the ANC’s candidate.
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Mlambo received 91 votes, with the DA’s Dinake in second place with 69, with the help of the FF Plus. The EFF’s Dunga received 31 votes. Regional secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi shrugged off possible coalition tensions, arguing the ANC’s decision to put forward a candidate was democratically allowed.
Of course for some reason the outcome was favourable to the ANC and we obviously welcome that as a sign of confidence in the leadership of the ANC,” he said. Asked whether the party can afford to step on the toes of a coalition partner, Dlabathi insisted that democracy enabled the ANC to field a candidate.
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