ANC favours flexible municipal coalitions
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
The ANC favours a flexible approach to forming coalitions in South Africa’s 257 municipalities after its losses in local elections. The party rejects a single formula and regards the Democratic Alliance as a partner of last resort, according to sources cited by Sowetan.
The ANC, the governing African National Congress in South Africa, adopted a “tactical flexibility” approach on Thursday for coalition negotiations in the country’s 257 municipalities. Its expanded National Executive Committee believes there is no single model and that agreements must take account of the balance of forces in each council, according to people familiar with the discussions cited by Sowetan.
The DA, Democratic Alliance, remains a possible partner but would be considered a solution of last resort. ANC members are also cautious about agreements with smaller parties and are expected to assess the value of each arrangement rather than systematically seek a governing majority, according to Sowetan.
The ANC’s decline in electoral support is forcing it to seek agreements with other parties to retain control of several municipalities, including major metropolitan areas. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is due to brief provincial and regional structures on Friday, ahead of a press conference on Saturday, reports Sowetan.
The National Executive Committee discussions also did not lead to calls for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign, despite the ANC’s results in the local elections, according to the people cited by Sowetan. They come after the 2 November decision to entrust the ANC’s national office with municipal coalition negotiations municipal coalition negotiations.
