Everson Luhanga & Zukile Majova
A long day of horse trading in Gauteng’s hung metros ended with the Democratic Alliance winning executive power in both the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni Metro.
These are two of the political earthquakes from coalition talks in different parts of the country, which spell big trouble for the ANC.
It still remains to be seen whether the DA will agree on Tuesday to vote with the EFF to allow the fighters to take control of the City of Tshwane.
In Gauteng, there were three hung municipalities – Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
The Democratic Alliance emerged victorious, winning both the City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni with the support of the EFF.
The DA’s Tania Campbell was elected mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni, beating the ANC’s Mzwanele Masina who has been at the helm for the past five years.
In the City of Gold, Dr Mpho Phalatse (pictured) of the DA beat the ANC’s Mpho Moerane by 144 votes to 121.
Speaking to the media, Dr Phalatse said they entered the chamber to elect a new mayor without any coalition agreement.
“Everyone voted in their individual capacities.”
She stressed that she will work with all parties to bring stability and services to the residents of Johannesburg who have experienced both water cuts and power cuts the past week.
“It has been a miracle that we have been voted into government and this shows the maturity of our democracy.
“We will render services for anyone.
“Booting out the ANC shows maturity.”
ActionSA president Herman Mashaba withdrew from the mayoral candidacy last night.
Addressing the media outside the council chambers, Mashaba said he knew he wouldn’t be mayor after achieving 16% of the vote in the City of Johannesburg in this month’s local government elections.
“It doesn’t take a scientist to know and understand that we cannot run a metro with the seats we achieved,” Mashaba said.
The true test of the DA/EFF cooperation will be seen on Tuesday when the City of Tshwane holds its inaugural council meeting.
The EFF has conditioned its support of any party on the idea that it should be given the capital to rule on its own.
The EFF received its first ever mayor when Selloane Motjeane was elected Executive Mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality in the Free State.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, the ANC won the council by just one vote. The ANC’s Eugene Johnson beat the DA’s Nqaba Bhanga to become the new mayor.
The ANC’s Sipho Hadebe was elected mayor of Emfuleni where he is tasked with fixing, among other things, potholes in his municipality.
This is the same municipality where people were seen swimming in the mother of all potholes.
Image source: @LukhanyoV
