Tshwane tough coalition talks set to continue aimed at stable government

The DA’s candidate, Randall Williams, who was elected as mayor unopposed this week, hoped that Tshwane’s continuing coalition talks might help avoid previous political chaos.

Last year, 214 councillors were out of office for months, while the city was placed under administrative control.

Williams was elected unopposed on Tuesday in the metro’s inaugural meeting.

The DA’s Christo van der Heever was elected chief whip while Katlego Mathebe was the speaker; both returning to their previous positions.

None of the parties in the council, including the ANC and EFF, submitted nominations for any of the three positions.

This ensured no voting was necessary and the DA won unopposed.

As Williams returned to his position, he said the DA would continue with coalition talks to ensure a stable council.

This was to avoid a chaotic council to which the metro was no stranger. In March 2020, the council was dissolved due to political instability that left the metro without a mayor and a manager.

The instability in the metro ensued after a fallout between the EFF and the DA. The EFF wanted the mayoral seat after DA mayor Stevens Mokgalapa resigned, following a sex scandal.

“From our experience, we have as a party learnt that signed formal agreements are the key to stable government,” he said.

Currently, there was still no formal agreements to form a coalition government in the metro – despite two weeks of negotiations.

He said the two-week period was not enough for the political parties to consolidate deals.

“Our door is open to most of the parties [except the ANC and the EFF]. There are 13 other parties in council. Our doors are open for them to come and discuss coalition agreements with us,” said Williams.

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In absence of formal agreements, it was not clear whether the mayoral committee would constitute a multi-party government.

Williams said this would depend on the coalition talks, which were led by the national leaders on behalf of the regional leadership.

The last mayoral committee was elected in November. It consisted of only one member who was not from the DA, namely health MMC Sakkie du Plooy from the Freedom Front Plus.

Williams said the committee would probably be announced by next week.

“We have to hit the ground running; currently in the administration, nothing is happening with the executive not being in place. The officials are running the metro alone.”

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ANC acting chairperson Aaron Maluleka said none of the parties knew what would happen on Tuesday.

He said he believed councillors learnt from last year’s administration and expected that they would work together.

While DA leader John Steenhuisen several times has said the DA would not work with the EFF, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba on Tuesday has vowed not to talk to the DA without the EFF.

The DA-led coalition won the Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg metro political leadership with the help of the EFF and ActionSA.

“If the DA wants to speak to ActionSA, they must make sure that the EFF will be part of those talks. I do not trust the DA because they have let me down on many occasions.”

Mashaba said one of the main conditions for ActionSA in the talks was for the insourcing of security guards and cleaners.

“These people have worked for companies for 10-15 years, earning small salaries of R2 000 – R3 000 with no benefits whatsoever. They are being exploited – the DA needs to understand that these people deserve better,” he said.

He said should his party not be able to influence decisions, he would not feel the party failed the people who voted for them.

ActionSA mayoral candidate Abel Tau, congratulating Williams, said, “this is no time to be playing games with the people of Tshwane”.

He highlighted issues faced by residents.

“The people of Hammanskraal are still drinking water that is unhealthy and the Mamelodi flood victims are still where they were while only some have been moved.”

ANC acting chairperson Arron Maluleka also congratulated the new leadership.

“The people of Hammanskraal need water and not stories from the DA. People of Soshanguve do not have roads and Mamelodi is filthy under the DA’s leadership.”

The inaugural sitting of the new council went smoothly, and arguments between ANC and EFF councillors did not disrupt the proceedings.

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#TshwaneCouncil| Tshwane mayor Randall Williams speaks on coalition talks set to continue post mayoral elections as the metro mulls over mayoral committee members. #TshwaneMayor #RekordNewspaper pic.twitter.com/FLqdTeoxkX

— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) November 24, 2021

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