As the fishy politics in local government continue to affect ordinary citizens, the possible collapse of the multiparty coalition government is imminent, with the situation dangerous in three Gauteng metro councils. Ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA) “the real state of the provincial address” is expected to take place today; Several other parties have bemoaned the position of the Gauteng metros – the City of Joburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane – in the DA leadership coalition. Some people claim citizens have lost faith in the coalition. The DA holds 71 seats in the Joburg city council, 69 in Tshwane and 65 in Ekurhuleni. Weighing expert…
As the fishy politics in local government continue to affect ordinary citizens, the possible collapse of the multiparty coalition government is imminent, with the situation dangerous in three Gauteng metro councils.
Ahead of the Democratic Alliance (DA) “the real state of the provincial address” is expected to take place today; several other parties have bemoaned the position of the Gauteng metros – the City of Joburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane – in the DA leadership coalition.
Some people claim citizens have lost faith in the coalition. The DA holds 71 seats in the Joburg city council, 69 in Tshwane and 65 in Ekurhuleni.
Experts weigh in
Political analyst Dr. Levy Ndou said there is no solid foundation for a coalition government because coalitions are created in a haphazard manner where people seek positions for power.
According to Ndou, because the party is focused on power – those who are isolated from the coalition will always do their best to ensure that the coalition collapses.
‘No principles’
“There is no principle but it is based on what we will do from the partnership,” he said. Ndou spoke about what he gave to the public by creating a coalition – the members of the coalition are in many cases treated as equals, but certainly not the expression of the voters on the ground.
He added the resignation of Tshwane mayor Randall Williams would not ensure the “coalition stability” he spoke of.
Williams resigned from office on Monday as he came under pressure from his DA coalition partners, following poor audit results under his watch.
NOW READ: Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams resigns
ActionSA’s Gauteng provincial leader, Bongani Baloyi, said multiparty coalitions in the three metros were difficult to organize. ActionSA is still in coalition with the DA in Tshwane but remains the opposition party in Joburg and Ekurhuleni.
Initially, the DA controlled all three metros but now it is left with only one. Baloyi said the DA-led coalition lost in Joburg because it could not get the Patriotic Alliance to support it.
‘arrogant’
“Because of arrogance, we can’t get a coalition, which is a result of the DA’s arrogance and frustration of negotiations in Joburg City,” he said.
Baloyi said it was because the DA-led coalition could not deliver sustainable services and lacked faith in them, as happened in Joburg and Ekurhuleni, that the coalition government collapsed.
The DA leads a minority government in Ekurhuleni. Baloyi said that Ekurhuleni has always been a minority government that cannot pass the budget or solve the problems of the council.
“It is difficult to maintain such a government, because we have seen the regression of services in Ekurhuleni. Go to the towns in Ekurhuleni and see the state of service delivery and how serious the regression is,” he said.
Baloyi added that although he was surprised by Williams’ resignation, it was welcomed. Ndzipho Kalipa, a former member of the mayor’s infrastructure and development committee in Ekurhuleni and a member of the People’s Congress, said a lack of renewal, firmness and leadership would lead to the collapse of the multiparty coalition government.
Kalipa said the core problem and the collapse of the coalition is based on the lack of fairness, lack of leaders with transparent principles to defend the values and agreements they entered into.
READ MORE: An alternative to a crowded political coalition
– lungas@citizen.co.za