By Doreen Mokgolo
- Sources say ActionSA and IFP are demanding seats in the mayoral committee in exchange for their support.
- The EFF may lose two of its four executive positions as coalition politics shift in Gauteng.
The coalition between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters in Ekurhuleni is under serious pressure and the EFF could be pushed out of power.
Insiders claim talks are at an advanced stage for ActionSA and the Inkatha Freedom Party to replace the EFF in two of the four Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) positions the party currently holds.
This comes after Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza survived a motion of no confidence in council on Thursday. The motion was tabled by the Independent Citizen’s Movement (ICM) and backed by the Democratic Alliance.
ICM, which has one seat, broke away from the “super seven”, a group of minority parties, to support the DA’s push to remove Xhakaza.
Tensions in the coalition have grown since Xhakaza removed EFF provincial chair and MMC for finance, Nkululeko Dunga, from his post. The decision has reportedly destabilised the ANC-EFF alliance.
A senior ActionSA member told Scrolla.Africa the party is demanding two executive positions and will not settle for less.
“We don’t want legislative positions because we already occupy those in Johannesburg and are not making the impact we want,” said the source.
The IFP, which has three seats in Ekurhuleni and has long been aligned with the DA, refused to support the motion against council speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, claiming the DA never approached them.
Gauteng IFP provincial secretary Alco Ngobese said the party will no longer act as a passive supporter in council.
“We are not there to be bench backers. Any party that wants our vote must reward us,” he said.
“We want to be part of the government in Ekurhuleni and serve in the department of human settlements so we can extend services in hostels.”
Ngobese added that his party felt insulted when the DA tabled the motion against the speaker without talking to them.
“They think we are their extension and that our support is guaranteed. That’s not true. We are an independent party,” he said.
Pictured above: MMC of Finance Jongizizwe Dlabathi and Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
