Mashaba offers DA Johannesburg mayoralty to break coalition deadlock

Share current article via EmailShare current article via FacebookShare current article via TwitterShare current article via LinkedInLizeka TandwaDigital Politics Editor

Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandActionSA leader Herman Mashaba at the National Results Operations Centre at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg. Picture: Freddy Mavunda © Business Day ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has offered to step aside from the race for Johannesburg mayor, proposing that the Democratic Alliance retain the mayoral position in the country’s economic hub in a bid to break the political deadlock between the two parties in Gauteng’s metropolitan municipalities.

In a letter to DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis dated November 7 seen by the Sunday Times, Mashaba proposed that for negotiations to begin, both he and former Cape Town mayor Helen Zille withdraw as mayoral candidates, allowing the DA to nominate a replacement who could be supported by ActionSA.

Under the proposal, ActionSA would take the deputy mayor position in Johannesburg, while the remaining terms of a possible coalition agreement would be negotiated between the parties.

The DA received the biggest share of the Johannesburg votes with 34.79% while the ANC received 20.25% with ActionSA taking the third spot with 16.27%. This means that the DA could form a two-party coalition with the Mashaba-led party.

In Tshwane, the DA received 34.37% while ActionSA took the second-largest share with 22.07% and the ANC received 20.22%.

In Ekurhuleni, the DA took 30.68% while the ANC received 22.11% with ActionSA receiving the third-largest share of votes at 18.5%.

The proposal, which signals a possible breakthrough in coalition negotiations following the local government elections, also outlines a potential arrangement for Tshwane.

In Tshwane, Mashaba wants DA mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink to resign his council seat and the DA to nominate a deputy mayoral candidate acceptable to ActionSA. In return, the DA would support ActionSA’s mayoral candidate, Dr Nasiphi Moya.

The letter, addressed to Hill-Lewis, follows a telephone discussion between the two leaders on November 7, during which Mashaba said the parties should begin discussions on the Gauteng metros as soon as possible.

Mashaba acknowledged the history of strained relations between the parties, saying their previous experiences of working together had resulted in a long-term breakdown of trust.

However, he argued that this should not prevent them from exploring an arrangement that could provide relief to Gauteng residents.

“It would be irresponsible to allow such history to inhibit the exploration of further discussions that could provide relief to the long-suffering residents of Gauteng,” Mashaba wrote.

To begin negotiations where we are dictated terms by a smaller party would set us up for a massive problem later on.

He said the proposed arrangements were intended to create an environment in which negotiations could proceed without the baggage of previous political battles between the parties.

Mashaba acknowledged that the proposals could appear to be centred on the sharing of political power but argued that resolving leadership and trust issues was necessary to establish stable coalitions.

He said a shared programme of government and other substantive matters should be negotiated once the parties had created an enabling environment for discussions.

The ActionSA leader also indicated that his party was open to alternative proposals from the DA, saying Hill-Lewis could put forward his party’s own ideas before the two sides convened an in-person meeting.

“It is clear from these elections that the support for our two parties is increasing, while other parties are being rejected,” Mashaba wrote.

“I believe it would be foolish of our respective parties to fail to recognise this or the moment that these elections present for change.”

A DA insider said the party leaders believed that Mashaba was negotiating in bad faith, adding that it was unlikely that the party would agree to the terms.

“There was a stringent process to choose our mayoral candidates. It’s unfair for us to say to our candidates that they should remove themselves when they did the work of campaigning. Not only that, we are the biggest party in Gauteng metros. To begin negotiations where we are dictated terms by a smaller party would set us up for a massive problem later on.

“We will negotiate in good faith; we are prepared to hear what they say and a power-sharing deal is still on the cards, but we can’t have ActionSA dictate to us how we should deal with internal matters,” a DA leader said.

Another DA leader simply said it would be much more beneficial for Mashaba’s party to govern with the DA instead of the ANC. They added they believed that the preconditions for negotiations were made in such a way to ensure that a DA/ActionSA arrangement would collapse for ActionSA to coalesce with the ANC.

ActionSA chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed a letter was issued to the leader of the DA.

“We are disappointed by the fact that the contents of this letter have been shared with the media. ActionSA would not want to discuss the contents of the letter through the media so that discussions may be given the best prospects of success without adding unnecessary barriers to progress.”

The proposals come as the battle for control of Gauteng metros takes shape, with coalition negotiations expected to determine who governs the three Gauteng metros.

Mashaba’s offer effectively puts the Johannesburg mayoralty on the table in an attempt to accommodate the DA while seeking to secure the top position for ActionSA in Tshwane through Moya.

It also offers a possible route for the two parties to co-operate in Ekurhuleni, where ActionSA has indicated its willingness to support a DA mayoral candidate.

Would you like to comment on this article?Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.