ANC eyes small political parties for coalitions
THE ANC is in talks with smaller parties in a desperate bid to establish functioning coalitions in five Gauteng municipalities in which it failed to secure the majority of seats.
The municipalities in which the party’s support ranged between 39.71% and 50.43% include Emfuleni, Mogale City, Merafong, Rand West City and Lesedi.
ANC West Rand regional spokesperson Zaza Machakela said the region had been given the go-ahead by the Gauteng provincial executive committee to start negotiations.
The West Rand District Municipality includes Merafong, Rand West City and Mogale City.
In Merafong, the ANC secured 48.97% of 27 council seats, while opposition parties have 28, including one that was won by independent candidate Thabo Malatjie.
The party managed 45.33% in Rand West City and will have 32 councillors, while other parties have a combined total of 36.
In Mogale City, the party obtained 31 council seats, the DA 25, the EFF 11, and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) six.
The ANC will probably try to woo Malatjie and the Merafong Agents of Change, which secured two seats, while the IFP, UDM and the African Independent Congress each secured a single council seat.
In Rand West City, the Patriotic Alliance secured two seats, while the Azanian People’s Organisation, the ACDP and the Randfontein People’s party each secured single seats.
Machakela said the ANC would be targeting smaller political parties and not its biggest rivals.
“We have received a report on a number of offers to the provincial leadership,” he said.
Machakela said the ANC’s majority was reduced to less than 50% in the three municipalities as a result of the challenges the party experienced in its candidate selection process before the municipal polls, which forced unhappy members to stand as independent candidates.
He said the regional working committee would meet this week to discuss and develop a strategy and report to the Gauteng provincial executive committee by Sunday.
“We will start engaging and develop a roadmap on what is feasible for the region,” Machakela added.