The re-election of Tania Campbell as mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni could be short-lived if the DA-led multi-party coalition does not secure an additional partner in that municipality.
On Tuesday, Campbell was reinstated as mayor with the assistance of the EFF. However, this means Ekurhuleni is once again, run by a minority government which can be removed in a few months.
With the help of the EFF, Campbell received 124 votes out of 224 ballots cast, beating ANC mayoral candidate Jongizizwe Dlabathi who received 99 votes.
Without the EFF's support in Ekurhuleni, the minority government, which consists of the DA, ActionSA, IFP, FF+ and the ACDP, has a combined 93 seats.
With the help of former coalition partner, the PA, with its four seats, the multi-party coalition had 97 seats.
To govern in Ekurhuleni and pass budgets, any coalition would need 113 seats.
Speaking on the future of the coalition in the municipality, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said the multi-party coalition task team was engaging other parties on a continuous basis.
“It’s not only up to the DA but there is a desire to strengthen the coalition in Ekurhuleni.
“The task team through [Dr Corne] Mulder engaged the PA and there was a view that obviously they also want to come up with the price tag... There has been an attempt even before the vote [on Tuesday] but clearly the PA couldn’t ensure goodwill with us during that motion.
“I think we’re still engaging with other parties to try and find a solid majority there one more time, but it will be out there with other parties,” Msimanga said.
The DA is on record that it would not work with the EFF, despite the red berets having previously helped the DA on two occasions post the 2021 local government elections in getting Campbell elected and City of Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse elected to her position.
“The EFF voted as they saw fit. I won’t comment on their strategy,” Msimanga said. “We're very clear that we can’t make any dealings outside what has been agreed on with the coalition.”
Meanwhile, PA deputy chairperson Kenny Kunene did not completely shut the door on a future relationship between his party and the DA.
“In Ekurhuleni the EFF is the decider, but they keep their cards very close to their chest unlike the PA that tells you straight to your face 'we're not voting with you', which is what we did with the DA.
“On Monday, we met with multi-party representatives and told them we’re voting with the ANC.
“The DA continuously says it doesn’t want EFF votes, but every time they accept their votes. The DA is not genuine. If as the PA we're going to a vote and our win was dependent on a party we don’t want to work with then we wouldn’t field a candidate.
“Why do you field a candidate when know you’ll be a minority government? Even in Joburg, they’ll be a minority which means they’re dependent on EFF vote to pass budgets,” Kunene said.
All eyes will be on the City of Johannesburg to see if the AIC will move forward with its planned motion of no confidence against Phalatse.
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