The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday, dismissed “ANC-inspired rumours†that coalition agreements have been reached saying negotiations were ongoing.
“This includes Luthuli House’s desperate spin that the DA was horse-trading control of metros. These are the last kicks of a dying horse, desperate to cling onto power using misinformation,†chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive James Selfe said in a statement late on Tuesday night.
“The DA will continue with its negotiations in earnest with the clear objective of putting together governments that give effect to the majority of the electorates’ rejection of the ANC and its management of local government.â€
He said this would require establishing “workable, well-governed municipalities and metros†that would create jobs as well as deliver services and bring corruption to a stop.
“DA-led governments will do this by making use of the pool of skills and talent that already exist in many of the existing administrations,†he said.
“There will be no ‘purging’ of staff — every person who works hard, in the best interests of the people, and is qualified to do the job, will be welcome. Indeed, positions are not awarded on the basis of political allegiances in DA-run towns and cities.â€
Selfe said that the electorate gave political parties a “clear mandate†to form a government that would give effect to change by “kicking out the ANC which has failed them by putting corruption first and services lastâ€.
He said the DA would continue with negotiations in the spirit of the mandate.
On Tuesday morning, speaking at the DA’s ‘Thank you Tshwane’ Rally held at Freedom Park, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said the party was still talking with other parties to form a coalition. He said the DA would not compromise their values and would only form a coalition with people who support their vision.
“If you agree with us that we must deliver for poor people, if you agree with us that we can’t stand for corruption, if you agree with us that we must be a non racial movement, if you agree with us that we can’t hire bo chomi (friends) in the municipality, if you agree that South Africa is for blacks, coloured, Indians and whites, I’m writing to you so that you can come and we govern,†Maimane said at the time.
“If you don’t agree with us we won’t compromise because we are not desperate to govern. We want to be a party that benefits the people.â€
Maimane told supporters that the DA do not intend to work with the African National Congress (ANC) because the ruling party divides people on the basis of race and are corrupt.
The parties have 14 days to form a governing coalition. If there are no agreements with the given days, the constitution provides provincial and national authorities to intervene.
– African News Agency (ANA)
