W Cape DA, ANC seek tie-ups with smaller parties
Cape Town 04-08-16 The Independent Electoral Commission's office (IEC) Mayor Patricia De Lille with Bonginkosi Madikizela, Housing MEC doing a victory dance Picture Brenton Geach Cape Town 04-08-16 The Independent Electoral Commission's office (IEC) Mayor Patricia De Lille with Bonginkosi Madikizela, Housing MEC doing a victory dance Picture Brenton Geach
Cape Town - Behind-the-scenes horse-trading was in full swing on Thursday as the major political parties wooed the kingmakers in five local municipalities in the Western Cape.
Even before the Electoral Commission of South Africa made the final election results known, the main players were locked in coalition talks with smaller parties, after no party received an outright majority in Beaufort West, Hessequa, Witzenberg, Prince Albert and Laingsburg.
DA insiders indicated that talks were already under way in those municipalities.
The DA is believed to be in discussions with Cope, which emerged as the kingmakers in the Witzenberg Municipality in Ceres, while in Prince Albert and Laingsburg, the DA was talking to the Karoo Gemeenskap Party.
In Beaufort West, the DA was in talks with the Karoo Democratic Force, while in Hessequa, the DA was after the Freedom Front Plus, which obtained a single seat on the local council.
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille said on Thursday that losing the Hessequa Local Municipality was her greatest disappointment.
The ANC got 46.14 percent of the vote, the DA 42 percent and the FF+ 4.8 percent.
“That is a lesson in how independent candidates can split the vote, split the opposition vote, get no seats themselves, but give a council to the ANC. That’s the lesson we got from Hessequa,” she said.
The DA was not the only party looking to form alliances.
The ANC too has been looking to build coalitions after a poor showing.
DA provincial chairman Anton Bredell remained mum on talks with other parties.
“We have exceeded our own expectations, and while we did not get an outright majority in five of the municipalities, we will keep our options open,” he said.
ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs confirmed that the ANC was also involved in negotiations with smaller parties to minimise the control the DA would have in local governments.
“While still preliminary, we will continue talking to our historic coalition partners to explore renewed relationships,” Jacobs said.
The DA won outright control in 19 out of 24 local municipalities as well as the hotly contested Cape Town Metro.
Bredell said the five district municipalities would have 14 days to constitute after the results have been declared.