IFP Gauteng stands by DA … but could work with ANC in Joburg

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Gauteng says it’s still committed to its coalition agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to govern the City of Joburg, despite mayor Herman Mashaba’s resignation.

Inkatha Freedom Party Gauteng leader Bonginkosi Dhlamini said Mashaba’s resignation should not stop the machinery of the metro or service delivery.

He also said the IFP stood by the agreement they entered into in 2016 with the DA and other political parties in Johannesburg to run the metro government via a coalition partnership.

“We will continue to work with the DA.

“There is no rush at this point to rethink our cooperation with them,” Dhlamini said.

While Dhlamini refused to speculate about what would happen in future, he said the IFP would not dismiss the possibility of future cooperation with the ANC.

New IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa is known to prefer dialogue to an oppositional approach to the ANC.

Last August, the ANC tried to lobby the party to support its motion of no confidence in Mashaba. The plan to oust Mashaba collapsed and was abandoned when the IFP refused to support the motion.

But the ANC has not given up on the party and the IFP provincial leader confirmed that the ANC still wanted his party to come onto its side in the council.

It is believed that with Mashaba having quit, the talks between the two parties could intensify.

This comes amid reports that the flip-flopping Economic Freedom Fighters, which has been a major DA partner since the 2016 local government elections, was contemplating backing the ANC, a move that could return the ANC to power in the city.

“The negotiations are still ongoing between the IFP and the ANC.

“We have not concluded, but politics is fluid and the final decision on the coalition take place at national level,” Dhlamini added.

He said the IFP has not committed to leaving the governing coalition in Johannesburg.

“I can say even when the call was made, the IFP had no business in supporting the motion of no confidence in Mashaba because we were committed to our coalition agreement.

“When the time comes to make a final decision on who to support, the IFP will do so at party level.

“We are an independent party, we take our own decisions.

“At provincial level we do not decide on forming coalitions. Those talks take place at national level of the party,” Dhlamini said.

The IFP has five councillors in the Joburg City Council – Nonhlanhla Makhuba, Mzobanzi Ntuli, Thokozile Kubheka, Mlungisi Mabaso and Vincent Shange.

Makhuba holds the portfolio of member of the mayoral committee for transport.

A second position which was offered to the IFP’s Ntuli was that of human settlements, which the DA later took back, a move that caused tension between the two parties.

“The agreement was not done properly. There was no consultation with the IFP,” Dhlamini said.

But he stressed that the IFP did not join the coalition in order to get positions and that removal of their member of the mayoral committee did not cause them to abandon the DA-led coalition.

“As a coalition partner, we have no demands of the DA, but we want a corruption-free government that is responsive to the poor and able to provide services to the people without looking at their political affiliation.

“All we want from the DA is for it to provide a mayoral candidate to vote for,” Dhlamini said.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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