THE ANC in Ekurhuleni has submitted a motion of no confidence in DA mayor Tania Campbell, paving the way for a takeover by the governing party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the city.
The ANC is currently holding talks with the EFF and ActionSA to take control of the Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros.
The ANC’s Dada Morero is now the Mayor of Johannesburg, after the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Mpho Phalatse was ousted in a motion of no confidence.
The motion of no confidence against Campbell in Ekurhuleni follows the removal of COPE and the Patriotic Alliance as coalition partners, leaving three MMC posts vacant.
Two of the posts have subsequently been filled by deployees from the DA and Action SA.
In a media statement, the ANC accused the multi-party government of making the changes to settle a political score following the ousting of Phalatse.
ANC chief whip and councillor Jongizizwe Dlabathi said under Campbell’s leadership, “service delivery has taken a racial turn, and our townships, where the majority black communities reside, have been clearly neglected”.
“The DA has actually pursued an anti-pro-poor (sic) budget, with one case in point being the abrupt decision of taking away the free basic electricity, which was a necessary relief for our communities, especially amid the tough economic conditions,” said Dlabathi.
ANC regional spokesperson, Lesiba Mpya, says the party is concerned the instability in the DA-led coalition adversely affects residents.
“We have noted with disgust the deteriorating level of service delivery. Particularly in the townships, there are escalated levels of potholes, waste collection is not done sewage flows every day and in Ekurhuleni lit areas there’s hardly security of supply,” Mpya said.
“So we are definitely going to be tabling a motion of no confidence in the confused and useless DA mayor.”
Meanwhile, DA leader John Steenhuisen, said through three Private Members Bills, the DA will be introducing legislation to stabilize coalitions after the 2024 national and provincial elections.
Steenhuisen said in metros such as Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay, residents face the constant risk of disrupted service delivery.
“If the current state of metro coalitions is replicated at national and provincial government level post 2024, it will lead to permanent instability, with South Africa possibly even becoming ungovernable,” Steenhuisen.
“If coalitions are to be the future in South Africa, then Parliament needs to take the necessary legislative steps to ensure that they are stable and able to deliver. Many other countries have done just this, and are governed by successful, stable coalitions. If we fail to stabilize coalitions, poorest communities will bear the brunt of their dysfunction, since they are most reliant on government services.”
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