The working relationship between the ANC and the EFF has reached a point of no return with President Cyril Ramaphosa saying it’s simply “not working”.
ActionSA has posed a vote of no confidence in Ekurhuleni mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana.
Ngodwana’s party won just 13% of the vote in the metro but is in power through an agreement with the ANC.
Ahead of the no-confidence debate on Tuesday, Ramaphosa made it clear that the ANC was ready to walk away from its deal with the EFF.
“The simple answer is that the current arrangement that we have in the coalition is not working. That’s it,” he said.
The marching order from the top is that the ANC should vote with ActionSA for the removal of Mayor Ngodwana.
“We’ve always said that coalition governments are always problematic and that has proven to be the case here in Ekurhuleni,” said Ramaphosa during his election campaign in Ekurhuleni.
“Therefore, we as the ANC, need to reassess our own participation in coalition governments because they are ineffective. They become paralysed and they don’t provide the services that our people need.”
He said the Ekurhuleni coalition was not serving the interest of the residents adding that the ANC would be happy to be in opposition rather than sponsoring a coalition that benefits politicians.
The removal of the EFF mayor would pave the way for ActionsSA and members of the multi-party for South Africa – DA, IFP, FF plus – to return to power in the metro.
The ANC has indicated it plans to present its own candidate for mayor.
The EFF has already threatened to cut ties with the ANC in Tshwane and the Johannesburg metros if the ANC dumps it in Ekurhuleni.
The Ekurhuleni vote has the potential to unravel coalition arrangements in metros across Gauteng and once again force the removal of a sitting mayor in Johannesburg.
City of Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, whose Al Jama-ah party won just 1% of the vote in Johannesburg, is in power through a coalition with the ANC and the EFF.
Pictured above: The last council meeting called to debate a vote of no confidence in Ekurhuleni mayor Sivuyile Ngodwana degenerated into a fistfight between the EFF and security personnel.
Image source: X
