JOHANNESBURG – The ANC says that any agreement between the EFF and DA will not stand the test of time.
On Wednesday, the EFF and DA held separate media briefings where they announced their coalition government decisions.
The EFF said that it would not be part of any coalition but it would work to ensure that the ANC is removed from power.
EFF leader Julius Malema announced that his party would snub the ANC and vote for other opposition parties in hung municipalities, particularly siding with the DA in the metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni.
But the ANC said that it was not bothered by the EFF and DA’s partnership as the wheels would soon come off.
“We don’t think their marriage will last,” said ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.
“The EFF has no reason voting with the DA, it is closer to the ANC regarding policy than it is to the DA.”
Kodwa said that the ANC would be a formidable opposition in municipalities where they failed to get a majority.
“The ANC is at the moment hard at work in councils it has not won,” he said.
“It must be noted that the ANC will be a co-operative and fierce opponent where we have not gathered a majority vote.”
Malema had said the ANC failed to meet their conditions to form a coalition. One of those non-negotiable demands was the removal of President Jacob Zuma as head of state.
Nonetheless, Kodwa said that the ANC was a party focused on the collective.
“The people of South Africa voted for the ANC as a collective and not for individuals,” he said.
Kodwa was optimistic that the ANC would hang onto larger municipalities like Johannesburg, saying council meetings had been concluded yet.
The EFF singled out one agreement they needed to iron out with the DA if they were to govern in Johannesburg.
Malema said although he supports the DA’s bid to run the city, he does not want the DA’s mayoral candidate – Herman Mashaba – in that position.
“That guy is a problem, he has no idea of what we are dealing with,” Malema said of Mashaba.
“He thinks being a mayor is like buying shares in a company and becoming a chairman.”
Malema said Mashaba’s “anti-blackness’ was a problem for the EFF and he said he asked the DA to compromise if they were to get their full co-operation in Johannesburg.
“Where there is talks in terms of power sharing including getting support from others, you must be prepared to compromise,” he said.
“The DA is doing exactly what the ANC is doing, they are prepared to lose a metro because of an individual. The ANC was prepared to lose a metro because of an individual called Jacob Zuma.
“Those who have an ear of the DA must warn them that they must not lose a metro because of an individual.”
However, on Wednesday afternoon, Malema told Talk Radio 702 that if Mashaba was appointed mayor, “so be it”.
"Whatever happens Parks Tau won't be mayor, if it's Herman Mashaba so be it". – Malema. Case closed. It's not a deal breaker.
— Andile Mlondo (@AndileMlondo) August 17, 2016
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