Riyaz Patel
There is a likelihood that Tshwane will go the same way as Johannesburg, Democratic Alliance (DA) interim leader John Steenhuisen said in the aftermath of the African National Congress (ANC) unseating the DA-led coalition as the governing party in Johannesburg Wednesday.
Speaking to the media in Parliament Thursday, Steenhuisen said he was at the Johannesburg caucus last week and noted frustration in the caucus.
“I made a commitment that we will not stay in government for government’s sake,” he said, adding that “I will not be the leader who betrays the principles of the party and sells out.”
He said one or two DA councillors voted with the ANC.
“It is clear there were some deals done and some negotiations with the DA was in bad faith,” he said, and that the DA will engage with the parties concerned.
Steenhuisen said the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) put a variety of issues on the negotiation table, and the DA made some counter-proposals. They offered positions of committee chairpersons to the EFF.
“In the end, it turned out to be an academic exercise…We will not go into coalitions for coalitions’ sake.”
He said the DA has “no regrets” having been in government in Johannesburg since 2016’s dramatic municipal elections.
He said it was the right thing to do, as it showed voters that they can affect a change in government.
“Mistakes are never fatal, permitted that you learn from them,” Steenhuisen said.
Steenhuisen’s comments came as chaos reigned in the Tshwane Council ahead of a motion of no confidence in Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa.
The EFF reportedly did not want want the deputy speaker to preside over Thursday’s proceedings, demanding speaker Katlego Matebe oversee proceedings.
