DA disappointed with ANC/FF+ partnership in Emfuleni

5 July 2023

The DA in Emfuleni was taken aback by the announcement of a Freedom Front Plus (FF+) Councillor joining the ANC-led coalition's Mayoral Committee in the Emfuleni Local Municipality.

In the context of the Moonshot Pact, where the DA is working with the FF+ to provide a national alternative to the ANC, we are disappointed that the FF+ has partnered with the ANC in Emfuleni. While we respect the right of all parties to make their own decisions, we express our view that the FF+ joining the ANC in government is not in the best interests of residents or voters.

The DA Caucus and the Freedom Front Plus Caucus in Emfuleni have maintained excellent cooperative arrangements for quite some time, working together to expose the numerous failures of the ANC-led Council. This council is consistently regarded as the worst-managed local authority in the Gauteng Province and one of the poorest in the country.

During the 2021 Local Government elections, the ANC's support in Emfuleni dropped below 50%. To retain their dominance and perpetuate their abysmal service delivery record, the ANC relied on the New Horizon Movement, a local party backed by Mmusi Maimane's One South Africa movement, as well as two other small parties. However, many voters who had initially supported these smaller parties expressed their frustration as the elected representatives decided to abandon their principles and join the ANC's council structure.

Recent disagreements with the smaller parties prompted the ANC to seek new coalition partners. It is surprising that they found willing partners in the Freedom Front Plus, resulting in the Mayor appointing Councillor Gerda Senekal as a member of the Mayoral Committee for Local Economic Development.

The DA wishes to assure the residents of Emfuleni that we maintain our strong opposition to the underqualified Mayor and Mayoral Committee. We will continue to hold them accountable by using our position on the Council to expose service delivery failures, financial mismanagement, and the overall incompetence of the Council.

The DA urges all eligible voters to ensure they are properly registered to vote and to unite behind the one party that has the size and strength to challenge the ANC and emerge victorious.

Issued by Dennis Ryder, Constituency Head, Emfuleni South Constituency, 5 July 2023