The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), dubbed “the kingmakers†for South Africa’s hung municipalities, said on on Wednesday that it was not in coalition with any political party, opting instead to be an opposition.
“We are happy to tell our people that we will not be going into coalition with anyone. The EFF will assume seats as the opposition,†leader Julius Malema told reporters in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg.
“EFF must not get power through short cuts.â€
He said the EFF would not be neutral at hung municipalities, but would support the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal “and everywhereâ€. They would further support the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni.
With no political party having received an outright majority after the August 3 polls in 27 municipalities and a number of key metros, parties have been involved in talks in a bid to form councils and elect mayors and speakers within 14 days after the official publication of the election results which had been declared by the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC).
Next Wednesday, the 24th of August, is the deadline for councils to be constituted - two weeks after the election results were published in the Government Gazette. The battle to form coalition councils are in key metros – Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Mogale City in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Bay. There were a total of 27 hung councils after the local government polls.
The DA is expected to hold a briefing on Wednesday to announce the outcome its coalition talks.
The red berets received 25 seats in Tshwane (ANC 89, DA 93) 30 in Johannesburg (ANC 121, DA 104). It snatched 25 seats in Ekurhuleni (ANC 109, DA 77), nine in Mogale City (ANC 38, DA 27) and six seats in Nelson Mandela Bay (DA 57, ANC 50).
– African News Agency (ANA)
