Lungani Zungu
After taking out DA Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse, the ANC-EFF coalition is now gunning for the heads of DA Ekurhuleni Mayor Tania Campbell and Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams.
Phalatse’s fate was sealed last week after opposition parties led by the ANC tabled a motion of no confidence against her.
The ANC’s Dada Morero was elected as mayor, taking over the country’s economic hub with a cool budget of R77 billion.
The newly-formed ANC-EFF coalition which includes smaller parties, now has its sights on Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
However, Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga said the DA would fight “the coalition of thugs” with everything at its disposal.
“We can’t allow the ANC and the EFF to use backdoor tactics to get into government. This is detrimental to the livelihoods of the millions of residents in those municipalities,” said Msimanga.
Msimanga urged other political parties to put the interests of the people first.
“This is not about us as politicians. This is about the people who voted for us to serve and change their lives. The ANC has failed to do that for more than two decades. We must do everything in our power to block them,” said Msimanga.
ANC Gauteng secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza said the party would reclaim its lost metros in the province.
“We think it is important for us to win these municipalities back so that we could serve the people accordingly. The DA has failed the people,” he said.
The ANC found itself on the opposition benches in the key metros of Tshwane, Joburg and Ekurhuleni after the DA formed a multi-party government with other parties.
In a desperate bid to win back these municipalities, the ANC went cap in hand to its rival, the EFF and asked that the parties work together to unseat the DA.
The ANC’s plea fell on eager ears.
This onslaught is expected to spill over to KwaZulu-Natal, where the EFF is likely to withdraw its support in about 18 KZN municipalities where it co-governs with the IFP.
