ActionSA calls out DA for abandoning Phalatse and residents of Johannesburg
25 January 2023
During last week negotiations to restore the majority of the governing multi-party coalition in Johannesburg reached a point at which a deal was accepted by the Patriotic Alliance. This deal would have restored the majority of the coalition in Johannesburg that would have kept the ANC out in South Africa’s economic capital and, most likely, the EFF out in Ekurhuleni.
The deal, arising from months of negotiations, was agreed by the negotiating teams of all parties (including the DA) and involved ActionSA sacrificing 2 positions in the Mayoral Committee to accommodate the PA and ensure the sustainability of the coalition government. Despite this, the DA’s Federal Executive rejected the deal.
The DA’s stated reasons for rejecting the deal are a false pretence to mask their intention to allow the coalition government to collapse in Johannesburg. Citing concerns about the PA intentions in the Economic Development portfolio is irrational. If evidence exists that a party plans to commit corruption within the coalition, they should not be brought in any position. Despite this, the DA accepts the PA in the position of Roads and Transport which houses a much larger budget and procurement capacity.
On 20 January 2023 leaders of coalition partners implored the DA to reconsider their position citing a certain collapse of talks and the government should the DA persist, however the DA refused to amend their position. The DA’s position was put to the PA who rejected the proposal and stated that they would not work with this multi-party coalition arrangement in Johannesburg involving the DA. Yesterday, 24 January, a meeting of the national coalition structure wrote to DA Leader John Steenhuisen and urged the DA Fedex to reconsider its position in rejecting a deal that had been accepted by the PA and agreed by all negotiating teams. Despite the urgency of an impending motion of no confidence on Thursday, the DA has not favoured its partners with a response.