The DA and ActionSA in the City of Johannesburg have distanced themselves from the mayoral drama, with the two parties vowing to blue tick a no confidence motion. However, opposition parties in council have announced they want no part in the conflict between partners in the local government of unity coalition. DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga revealed they have “reliably learnt” of a plot by the EFF to attempt to use the party as a pawn in its escalating conflict with the ANC.
“With less than a year to go before the local government elections, the DA is not interested in continuing with the game of ‘musical chairs’ in mayoral offices. We also have no interest in becoming involved, in any way, in any other political party’s internal factional battles.” Msimanga said ANC-led coalitions across Gauteng are crumbling, and the party will not get involved in the collapse. “The growing conflict between the EFF and the ANC, specifically in Ekurhuleni, but also in other coalitions with other partners such as ActionSA, has culminated in an EFF threat to bring the ANC down through motions of no confidence wherever they co-govern.” The Gauteng DA leader said his party has been burnt in the past after mayoral turbulence, with parties fielding no confidence motions with no fresh governance plan.
“The DA in Gauteng wants to make it clear we will not be used as pawns in the ANC-EFF-ActionSA power plays. The DA has learnt a bitter lesson from the past, that where we rely on other parties who aren’t sincere in dealing with issues of governance and delivery for our citizens, but purely on political power plays, we’d continue to have these unstable governments that lead to very little progress in terms of delivering to the people.” The party conceded the circumstances would not enable it to offer good, clean governance. “The DA is open to honest conversations about the way forward in municipalities and what is best for the residents. Our focus is solely on representing our voters, and becoming the biggest party in all metros in the upcoming elections.
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