A stalemate between the ANC and EFF, key political players in the Ekurhuleni metro, led to the postponement of a council meeting that was meant to elect a new executive mayor.
On Wednesday the two parties could not agree on who to field in key council positions.
This means the metro, which has a budget of R51.2bn for the 2022/2023 financial year, will go another week without a permanent political head. It also highlights the difficulty of putting together a coalition government, which political pundits say are shrouded in secrecy, and are more about staying in power than addressing service delivery.
Ekurhuleni, together with the metros of Johannesburg and Tshwane, were governed by DA-led coalitions after the 2021 municipal elections when the ANC’s support fell below 50% for the first time.
The council meeting was called to elect DA councillor Tania Campbell’s replacement, after her ousting through a motion of no confidence a week ago.
The Ekurhuleni council has 224 seats, and a clear majority of 50% plus 1 (113) is needed to pass crucial council items such as the budget and votes of no confidence. Of the 224, the ANC has 86 seats, DA 65, EFF 31, ActionSA 15, Freedom Front Plus eight, IFP two and ACDP two, with smaller parties accounting for 10 seats.
The ANC’s motion of no confidence against Campbell passed with the help of the Patriotic Alliance and other smaller parties (AIC three and one each for the ATM, COPE, ICM, IRASA, NFP, PAC and UDM). The EFF, the kingmaker in the metro, abstained from the vote.
The EFF, ANC and smaller parties account for 131 seats — a clear majority — compared with the DA coalition with a combined 93 seats.
The election of the new mayor was closely watched by political parties as they are vying for control of the metros before the 2024 national elections.
Gauteng premier and ANC provincial chair Panyaza Lesufi attended a closed meeting with the EFF leadership at the sidelines of the council meeting on Wednesday.
Business Day understands that the EFF wanted to field its Gauteng chair and Ekurhuleni councillor, Nkululeko Dunga, as its mayoral candidate and wanted the ANC councillors to support him — to no avail. This led to the stalemate that forced the postponement.
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga, ActionSA Gauteng chair Bongani Baloyi, and EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu and secretary-general Marshall Dlamini attended the council meeting.
Council speaker Raymond Dhlamini said another meeting would be called within seven days, as per council rules, to elect the mayor.
The Independent Citizens’ Movement (ICM) requested that the meeting be postponed.
“All political parties spoke to this [request] and it was agreed [to postpone] the council meeting,” council whip Khetha Shandu said.
Dunga, speaking to journalists before the meeting was postponed, said: “You can expect a decisive action of the EFF. Whether we support for or against any other [mayoral] candidate, or put our candidate [forward], it will be decisive.” Subsequent efforts to get hold of Dunga failed.
ANC Gauteng secretary Thembinkosi Nciza could not be reached immediately for comment.
Baloyi said, “It’s not over. Something can still happen ... conversations are still ongoing.”
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