Tshwane coalition cracks as ActionSA, EFF and ANC clash over city manager

City of Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu Cracks in the coalition in the City of Tshwane are starting to show as political parties point fingers at each other as the November local government elections creep closer. Besides that, the coalition between ActionSA, EFF and ANC in Tshwane has taken a knock and stands divided around thesuspension of the city manager Johann Mettler, after ActionSA voted against his suspension.

The ANC has also slated the municipality’s current campaign of not being on bylaws, but “a vicious, anti-black business crusade designed to dismantle the township economy”. ANC Greater Tshwane regional secretary George Matjila said the party’s regional executive committee condemns what he described as Moya’s declaration of war against black entrepreneurs. “Instead of introducing progressive and pragmatic programmes to help emerging black-owned businesses comply with city regulations, this mayor has chosen the path of economic vandalism,” said Matjila.

“The deployment of municipal machinery to smash, bulldoze and wipe out the informal structures of hard-working citizens is an act of unmitigated cruelty. “The ANC calls upon all township communities, informal traders and progressive formations to organise, unite and fiercely push back against these anti-poor, neoliberal policies.” He said the city’s framework to grow the economy by over 3.9% cannot be built on the ashes of destroyed township enterprises. We demand an immediate cessation of these hostile operations,” said Matjila. “We call for absolute restraint and demand the mayor report to the ANC leadership and local councillors in the affected wards to answer for this crisis.”