The DA in Ekurhuleni, through its mayoral candidate, Ghaleb Cachalia, has publicly challenged all opposition parties, including the AIC, to throw their weight behind them (the DA) to unseat the ANC from power in the metro.
The challenge excluding the EFF, who have elected to remain in cooperative and supportive opposition.
“We welcome the direct and public support of the EFF and other coalition partners with whom we share our premier goal to unseat the ANC from places of power and government, in order to be able stop corruption and improve service delivery,” Cachalia said in a statement released on Saturday.
“We appreciate the commitment from our coalition partners and reciprocate the EFF’s point of view that entering into a formal coalition would constitute a compromise of our respective political beliefs too; by the same token not to unseat the ANC would mean to not be true to our voter’s mandate,” he said.
What does this mean in the context of Ekurhuleni?
There are 224 council seats in Ekurhuleni; 113 provide a majority to elect the local government. The DA holds 77 seats and the EFF 25, totalling 102.
“The ANC has 109 seats. Neither one of us can form a majority local government and will require the support of other parties. For the DA and EFF to jointly unseat the ANC in Ekurhuleni we need the support and vote of nearly all of the remaining parties to obtain 11 of the remaining 13 seats,” Cachalia explained.
Those seats are held by the AIC (4 seats), IFP and FF+ (2 each); COPE, PAC, PA, ACDP and IRASA (1 seat) – 13 seats in all.
“The ANC reportedly entered into an agreement with the AIC, collectively holding 113 seats. This may be just sufficient to form a government – by a majority of one – if not challenged. In this context, the DA in Ekurhuleni has decided to publicly challenge all opposition parties, including the AIC, to follow and live up to the will of the people as expressed through their vote on 3rd August and unseat the ANC from power.”
He said, if elected, the DA will provide all elected councillors of the opposition parties a role on the mayoral committee and/or chair positions on oversight and standing committees.
“The mayoral committee and chairs of committees comprise 24 seats. The DA will occupy 11 positions (including mayor, speaker, finance and corporate and legal) and will invite all of the remaining parties to become part of the local government in Ekurhuleni.
“We would welcome comment on this public proposal from all concerned and affected parties – ideally to endorse it. Support of this position would mean living up to the will of the people, as assisting the ANC to remain in power is against the expressed will of the people – and we will question the motives of the individuals and parties that do so.
“Remaining silent by abstaining is not an option anymore. The time has come to be bold and to explore new forms of coalitions and forms of government – united in their diversity against a massively compromised ANC.
“It will also signal a common purpose that goes beyond horse-trading and that seeks to give collective meaning to the voters’ mandate. The people of Ekurhuleni have given us an historic mandate and have clearly voiced their dissatisfaction over the ANC’s corrupt governance. Now is the time to come together to unseat the ANC.
“Together we are all better off and by governing Ekurhuleni jointly we will form a government of local unity second to none while fully appreciating the EFF’s support and decision to remain in supportive opposition.”
