CAPE TOWN - The ANC in the Western Cape has begun the process of engaging with other political parties to form coalition governments.
The DA claimed the Cape Town metro with 62.27%, a slight drop from 66.61% in the 2016 municipal elections, making way for Geordin Hill-Lewis to be the youngest recorded mayor of Cape Town.
The ANC Interim Provincial Working Committee (IPWC) held a special meeting on Wednesday to consider the preliminary results. ANC provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni (videoed) said the party was hopeful while bigger townships were being counted.
Video: Tarryn-Leigh Solomons/ IOL Politics
The meeting also called for a comprehensive report from the provincial elections team once all voting districts had been declared.
“We have noted that the DA has lost its majority in no less than 15 municipalities in the province that they won outright in 2016,” the IPWC said in a statement.
“We have won 12 new wards directly from the DA strongholds in areas such as Cederberg, Breede Valley, Knysna, Delft and Oudtshoorn, among other areas.
“With 15 municipalities being declared ‘hung’ municipalities, the ANC in the province has mandated a delegation led by the provincial convenor, Lerumo Kalako, to begin the process of engaging with other political parties with a view to investigate possibilities of coalition governments.
“The approach of the ANC will always be that of those who share our broad principles of non racialism, non sexism, pro-poor and a strict adherence to the rule of law among others,” it said.
The party also noted a decline in voter turnout, especially in its strongholds, which it said had directly resulted in an electoral decline overall.
“We are encouraged and salute the communities who have given us votes in their wards, especially those that were under other political parties,” they said.
Cape Times