The ANC looks poised to retain the mayorship of eThekwini metro despite losing outright political control there in the November 1 local government poll. This outcome is likely after it struck a deal with the IFP that allows for the “biggest party to take control”.
On Tuesday, Business Day reported from reliable IFP and ANC insiders that the parties agreed to give each other “support” during a secret ballot to elect the mayor and the executive of port metro, though not in a formal coalition.
In exchange, the ANC will do the same in municipalities in northern KwaZulu-Natal, so that the IFP, which netted the majority of votes but not the 50 plus 1%, are assured victory for the mayoral seats. The region has 21 hung municipalities and the IFP, the official opposition in the region, won an outright majority in 14 municipalities.
On Wednesday, IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa confirmed his party had a support arrangement with the ANC, though not through a coalition. He was emphatic that the party will not share power with anyone where it has the majority. The party held coalition talks with 17 political parties including discussions with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and IFP president and founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
“In KwaZulu-Natal it is clear that voters in each municipality predominantly chose either the IFP or the ANC, with the exception of uMngeni, where the DA was the majority choice. Despite there not being an outright majority in some municipalities, either the IFP nor ANC gained the most seats.
“Thus, after frank discussions at national level with the ANC, we have come to a broad understanding that where the IFP has the most seats, despite no outright majority, the IFP will form the municipal government. Reciprocally, where the ANC has the most seats, despite no outright majority, the ANC will form the municipal government,” said Hlabisa.
The support arrangement outlines that neither party will interfere in this process, and will support the principle of the two largest parties becoming the government and official opposition, respectively. Accordingly, where the IFP governs, the ANC will become the official opposition, and vice versa.
“We will therefore remain opponents; but opponents who have agreed to operate on the same principle for the sake of securing stability in local governance and affording our people service delivery, he said.
“The IFP believes that the principle we have committed to can be expanded and replicated as a model in other parts of the country, allowing the biggest party to take control. Where it governs, the party will work with smaller parties and independent individuals to strengthen good governance and ensure the maturing of democracy.”
The inauguration of the new council takes place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday when new councillors and leadership of the city will be announced and sworn in. The ANC is expected to pronounce on its mayoral candidate and executive metro leadership on Friday.
On Thursday, the high court in Pietermaritzburg is set to hear an urgent application brought by the DA after the collapse of the first council meeting in uMngeni municipality last Friday. Last week’s council meeting broke down, with the DA and EFF walking out in protest. The speaker, mayor and deputy mayor were not voted in.
Mayor-elect for uMngeni, Christopher Pappas, wants the court to bar suspended municipal manager Themba Chibane from attending a meeting planned for Monday.
Chibane was provisionally suspended in light of a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe over Covid-19 procurement and suspected financial mismanagement. Chibane contends the suspension has lapsed.
The DA argues in court papers that Chibane must be prohibited from attending and in any way interfering with the planned council meeting. Pappas said the court acting municipal manager Sandile Buthelezi was obliged to facilitate last week’s meeting and should not have allowed Chibane to participate.
uMngeni is the only municipality in KwaZulu-Natal where the DA won an outright majority. The party says it brings the urgent case in its own interest and that of the council and the public. uMngeni’s council comprises 25 seats. Following the local government polls, the DA holds 13 seats, the ANC 10 and the EFF two.
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