ACTIONSA leader Herman Mashaba says the party won’t enter into coalitions at any cost, particularly with the ANC which has been rejected by voters.
Mashaba’s party is the kingmaker in City of Johannesburg and City of Tshwane metros, and has already started negotiating with a number of parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The former Joburg mayor said ActionSA has no plans as yet to work with the ANC, and has no interest at all in forming an alliance with the governing party following the local government elections.
“That meeting would collapse. Now, should I really entertain such an agreement? You cannot be a rocket scientist to see that. Imagine being in an arrangement with the ANC and then I am calling for the arrest of their cabinet ministers, do you think that coalition would work?,” said Mashaba.
“We cannot entertain it because the ANC is a problem. The people of South Africa have spoken, they have rejected the ANC so for us to bring the ANC through the backdoor would be criminal and evil.”
Mashaba further dismissed claims that Action SA has placed his mayorship as a condition in coalition negotiations with other political parties.
“This is not about positions, it’s about serving society the best way possible, for us to put such a minor issue as a pre-condition would be irresponsible. Yes, if anyone wants to get involved with us in government, we want to see the type of structure they propose and have,” said Mashaba.
“Let’s put in the best person as a mayor in municipalities where our vote is needed, we are not going to put a mayor based on convenience.”
ActionSA has performed very well in Johannesburg, particularly in the suburb of Randburg, a well-known DA stronghold where the party was able to draw 20% of the vote.
“The highest portion of the vote any other political party (outside of the DA and its predecessors) has been able to draw in our democratic history,” said the party.
“In Soweto, a long-time stronghold of the ANC, ActionSA was able to draw a massive 21% of the vote, the most any opposition party has been able to garner in our democratic history.”
Mashaba added that in the six municipalities they contested, just 13 months after formation, results indicated that unlike other established political parties, who generally draw support from a specific demographic of voters, ActionSA was drawing support across all communities.
- Inside Politics
