By Rosina Shiko
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has acknowledged that the ANC may again have to negotiate coalition agreements to govern municipalities after Wednesday’s local government elections, despite expressing confidence that the party could secure an outright majority in Johannesburg.
Speaking to the media after casting his vote at St John’s Lutheran Church in Kelvin, Sandton, Mashatile said the ANC was prepared to work with parties that shared its priorities of job creation, economic growth and improved service delivery.
Asked by Inside Politics whether success for the ANC meant winning metros such as Johannesburg and Tshwane outright or remaining in government through coalitions, Mashatile acknowledged the realities of coalition politics.
“Well, of course we are in an era where we do have coalitions, so we can’t wish that away,” he said.
“I think what is important is that where we have not won outright, we must look to work with partners who have a common purpose with us, which is to serve our people,” he said.
“It must not just be a numbers game. It must be sitting down and saying, ‘Do we all agree that these are the priorities?’ Let’s grow the economy. Let’s create jobs. Let’s sort out the challenges on water, service, and delivery. Those parties that agree with us on that kind of programme, we will work with them,” he said.
Mashatile remained confident about the ANC’s prospects in Johannesburg.
Asked by media if the party could achieve its target of securing more than 50% of the vote in the city, he said the campaign had been challenging.
“Most definitely, but it has been a difficult campaign,” he said.
“And also you know in Johannesburg there are [lots of] parties contesting, I think almost plus minus 80 parties. So it’s a big challenge,” he said.
He said the ANC had undertaken extensive campaigning, including door-to-door visits, to secure voter support.
“So we are confident that the ANC will get good support,” Mashatile said.
He said incoming councillors, regardless of political affiliation, would have to address the service delivery challenges facing communities.
“When candidates were campaigning, we heard what people were raising. Many of our people have challenges of water… but also there are challenges of roads in some areas. There are potholes. A lot of young people are looking for jobs,” he said.
He said councillors elected to office should prioritise residents’ needs rather than their own interests.
“They must be there to make sure that all council prioritise job creation. It improves service delivery for everybody. And that’s what we want to see happening,” he said.
“We have said that to ANC councilors. When you get there you are there for the people. Not for yourself. You are there to work for the people, and we hope that that message has sunk in,” he said.
He also defended the ANC’s candidate selection process, saying the party had assessed its mayoral candidates and councillors before the elections.
Responding to a question from Inside Politics about voters who had become disillusioned with politics and questioned whether their votes would make a difference, Mashatile urged them not to abandon the electoral process.
“Well, I’d like to say to people, don’t give up. Voting is what we fought for. It is their right. When you sit at home and don’t vote, some other people will vote for you, [and] what they vote for that’s what you will get, because you are sitting at home. So it’s important, so there’s no need to stay at home.”
He was confident that the ANC’s candidates would deliver improvements in municipal governance, he said.
“We have put up very good candidates. Right from the mayors downwards to ward councilors. Our mayors were interviewed. We checked them and so on. So we know that the caliber of councillors that are coming in, including our mayors, are councillors who are going to make sure that they implement, because we told them that we’ve got good policies. Now it’s time for action,” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS
