Mashaba resignation puts focus on DA coalition stance - EWN

JOHANNESBURG – With just over a year to go before South Africans head to the polls in the 2021 local government elections, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) position on coalitions appeared to be in tatters.Political experts and former President Kgalema Motlanthe have in the past emphasised the likelihood of a rise in coalition governments as an outcome of the polls.However, with Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba having resigned on Monday over the DA’s position on the issue and party leader Mmusi Maimane stating that they would maintain such agreements, it was clear the DA was still struggling to come to terms with coalition governments.Mashaba described the DA’s decision over the weekend to review its coalition agreements as tantamount to the party declaring itself to be unsuitable for the future.He cited varying views on race-related policies and the decision to revisit partnerships with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) among his reasons for his resignation.“With this grouping of people succeeding in their effort to take over the DA, I have no doubt whatsoever that they will move to collapse these governance arrangements. At the heart of the matter will be the pro-poor agenda that this multiparty government has executed,” Mashaba said.
But, Maimane said the DA would maintain the agreements.“Even as tough as it is, we never got an outright majority and it became important that we work with parties so that we can advance that dream,” he said.However, this was contrary to a decision made by the party to delay discussions on coalitions until its policy congress next year. The panel review report on the DA’s dismal performance in this year’s elections recommended that the party reassess its partnerships.The EFF held the keys to the DA’s control of Joburg and Tshwane, including other smaller municipalities.WATCH: ‘This is why I resigned’: 5 quotes from Herman Mashaba

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