Seven parties win a single seat each in Johannesburg municipal elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Daily Maverick
Seven parties won just one seat each in Johannesburg's 4 November municipal elections, while several other parties have two to five elected members. This fragmentation complicates coalition negotiations between the Democratic Alliance, the African National Congress and ActionSA, according to Daily Maverick.
The final results of the 4 November municipal elections in Johannesburg give one seat each to seven parties, while three obtain two, two obtain three and three others win five, according to Daily Maverick.
The distribution of seats complicates the formation of a coalition in the city council, where the DA, the ANC and ActionSA are expected to play the central roles. ActionSA president Herman Mashaba said the chances of a coalition with the DA were "very slim", Daily Maverick reports.
Three formulas are under consideration: a local unity government, a support agreement allowing two parties to share in particular the mayoralty and the council presidency, or a pact between the DA and the reformist wing of the ANC. The DA's candidate for Johannesburg mayor, Helen Zille, had indicated she preferred opposition to an unstable coalition, according to Daily Maverick.
The vote was held on 4 November, after a 13-month campaign led by Helen Zille. The DA did not, however, reach its target of 40% of the vote, according to Daily Maverick.
