Tshwane Council: ActionSA and EFF to vote for DA again in Tshwane, says Mashaba
“Make no mistake, the DA has not been gifted anything. They now sit in the very minority coalition governments they have spoken against, without written agreements in place with any parties.” - ActionSA.
Despite ruffled feathers following the DA’s refusal to back ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba as Johannesburg mayor, the parties were set to again work together to win the Tshwane mayoral election.
Things started smoothly at the metro’s inaugural council meeting on Tuesday. Following the swearing-in of the 214 councillors, the election of the metro’s mayor, speaker of the council and the chief whip of the council was set to take place.
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At the council chambers on Tuesday, Mashaba said although he was not happy about the DA’s decision not to support him, his party would vote for the DA mayoral candidate Randall Williams in Tshwane.
“We have done so reluctantly because of the arrogance with which the DA has ignored the wishes of all coalition partners and acted in a manner consistent with a party that did not want coalitions to work,” Mashaba said. He said there were no formal coalition agreements between the party and the DA.
“We arranged with the EFF that we will be voting with the DA today even here in Tshwane; today again, the DA will receive high numbers.” On Monday, the DA-led coalition won the Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg metro political leadership with the help of the EFF and ActionSA.
Mashaba said that ActionSA in all the municipalities voted for the DA and that they wanted security guards and cleaners to be insourced.
“These people have worked for companies for 10-15 years earning small salaries of R2 000-R3 000 with no benefits whatsoever and are exploited – the DA needs to understand that these people deserve better,” Mashaba said.
“It is now in the hands of the DA to ensure that they govern in the best interest of our people; if they fail, I would not feel that we had failed our electorate.”
Mashaba’s main reason for backing the DA was to “unseat the ANC”.
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“If the DA wants to speak to ActionSA, they must make sure that the EFF will be part of those talks.” He said the DA’s decision “risked” the chances of the ANC winning the country’s key metros.
“The prospect of these municipalities producing stable and effective governments now lies entirely with the DA and its ability to act in the interests of South Africa. ActionSA re-affirms its availability and willingness to conclude negotiations that serve the residents of these municipalities.
“Make no mistake, the DA has not been gifted anything. They now sit in the very minority coalition governments they have spoken against, without written agreements in place with any parties.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said they did not ask the EFF or ActionSA to vote for them.
“We will put proposals on the table to end corruption, improve service delivery, and attract investment to these cities to create the jobs that are essential to lifting people out of poverty.
“It will be up to them to show whether they are interested in this agenda or not,” he said.
The DA in Tshwane has 69 seats and needs 39 to get 108 for a majority; this will only be possible through coalition partners.
#TshwaneCouncil| @HermanMashaba speaks on ActionSA voting for the DA and what their expectations are.#TshwaneMayor pic.twitter.com/fK9sS0IBNv
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) November 23, 2021
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