GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - With coalition discussions drawing to a close it is apparent that the ANC has managed to reach a coalition agreement with the CSA leadership whilst the DA and FF+ have decided to work together.
In effect, this means that the ANC now has 12 seats, and the DA has 11.
This latest development has turned the EFF into a strong player with the power to determine who gets voted in by either abstaining or putting a halt to the ANC by voting with the DA/FF+.
The EFF war council, which is the highest decision-making body of the party, already decided to terminate coalition discussions with the ANC and indicated that they will not be voting for or supporting any candidate put forward by the ANC in any municipality for any position, including the positions of the speaker, chief whip and mayor.
EFF leader Julius Malema said his party is "not desperate to govern and it will not get into government by compromising its principles which are aimed at uplifting South Africans."
Sizwe Grootboom, a member of the EFF in the DBNLM, says that they will ensure that those deployed to Council report to the community on a monthly basis. "Once we are holding our own to account, it will be much easier to hold others to account." He added that the community must be consulted before every council meeting and that their inputs need to be raised in council. "Problems need to be identified and turned into programmes," he says.
SDM President Amos Mcinga is of the opinion that the situation in the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality is not ideal since there will not be any stability and residents will suffer.
The alleged decision of the CSA to enter into a coalition with the ANC has sparked controversy. CSA members, who have not officially been informed of the alleged coalition decision, have taken to social media and other platforms to demonstrate their disappointment.
These members feel resentful and indicate that they would have voted differently or that they would not have voted at all if they knew that their vote would be used to keep the ANC in power.
According to Sias Smith, a CSA member based in Graaff-Reinet, who have confronted the CSA leadership about the allegations relating to the coalition, have been blocked and removed from all CSA platforms.
On Wednesday 17 November disgruntled CSA members based in Willowmore also indicated that they will confront the leadership about the allegations.
In addition, the allegation that the ANC paid CSA leader, Cheslin Felix, the amount of R500 000 to secure the CSA seat is now being confronted on social media. This allegation started doing the rounds early last week after the alleged covert negotiations between the ANC and the CSA.
Upon request for comment on Monday 8 November, Felix vehemently denied the allegation.
He added that he has "built the CSA with his own two hands and with his own money" and that he will take legal action against those making allegations that are harmful to the party.
Graaff-Reinet Advertiser has not been able to establish the legitimacy or otherwise of this allegation.
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