Metro coalitions the way to go, says Malema
Leader Julius Malema blames DA for collapse of governing agreements in big cities
EFF leader Julius Malema says he still believes coalitions are the way forward for SA, despite a chaotic week in which coalitions in three of the metros collapsed. In an interview with Business Day, Malema was adamant that coalitions did work despite what had happened in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. “They are new, we are learning to make them work,” said Malema.
EFF leader Julius Malema says he still believes coalitions are the way forward for SA, despite a chaotic week in which coalitions in three of the metros collapsed.
In an interview with Business Day, Malema was adamant that coalitions did work despite what had happened in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay.
“They are new, we are learning to make them work,” said Malema.
The DA-led coalition in Johannesburg came tumbling down on Wednesday when the IFP, the UDM, COPE and some of its own councillors voted with the ANC for Geoff Makhubo, who was elected to replace Herman Mashaba as mayor.
The DA had taken the reins in Joburg in 2016 with the help of a formal coalition agreement with a number of small parties. In addition, the DA got the voting support of the EFF, which was kingmaker in the metro.
The same arrangement was put in place in Tshwane, but on Thursday, less than 24 hours after losing Johannesburg, the DA’s mayor Stevens Mokgalapa and speaker Katlego Mathebe were removed in a motion of no confidence supported by the ANC and EFF.
The EFF in both metros tried to negotiate with the DA and the ANC, offering its votes in Tshwane if the red berets were given control of Johannesburg.
Malema says that the missing piece of the puzzle for the EFF is experience in governing.
“If we get that, the picture is complete. So there will not be anyone who says ‘they don’t know how to govern, where did they govern?’ Coalition politics gives us that opportunity because there is no outright winner. So we can also get an opportunity.”
Malema used as an example Nelson Mandela Bay, where the EFF gave the UDM a chance by voting for Mongameli Bobani to lead the metro after DA mayor Athol Trollip was removed.
Bobani, however, was removed in a motion of no confidence on Thursday, supported by all parties in the city.
“They [the UDM] became a mayor and they failed. We have more [seats] than the UDM, [so] why can’t we be given an opportunity too and show people of SA how the EFF government will look [like]?” Malema said.
“So coalition governments actually give an opportunity for all to demonstrate what they are capable of.”
Malema said he believes a coalition should be run like a marriage. He said there should be WhatsApp groups and people should have their coalition partners on speed dial.
Coalition partners should not come together only when votes are needed in council.
The EFF said coalition partners were also meant to hold each other accountable. This is his argument for why if one party takes the mayoral position, another should hold the speaker seat.
Malema said that the ANC was willing to do this, but the DA was not.
Ahead of the Johannesburg vote, Malema said the EFF’s first preference was still working with the DA, but that the party did not come to the table, and that they then went on to negotiate with the ANC.
Malema said he spoke to DA leader John Steenhuisen, federal council chair Helen Zille and head of governance James Selfe.
Steenhuisen was not prepared to give the EFF a mayoral or speaker position, but rather offered the party committees to head, Malema said.
Malema said that this was a typical example of “white arrogance” and the DA behaving as if it was the boss.
“No-one got the majority and you can’t behave like you got the majority. We need each other,” Malema said. But the DA had rejected this outright, he said.
With the 2021 local government elections less than two years away, Malema said the EFF is still against going into formal coalition agreements.
He said that power needed to be shared.
“[Coalition agreements] take away the voice of opposition parties. Actually it kills the smaller parties,” he said.
“The only thing you can do is talk. Once the talking is taken away from you, you are finished,” Malema said.
COALITION GOVERNMENTS GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF
AGREEMENTS TAKE AWAY
THE VOICE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES. ACTUALLY IT KILLS THE SMALLER PARTIES