NATIONAL NEWS - The time for backroom politics has come as parties consider forming coalitions.
It appears a coalition will be required for the Democratic Alliance (DA) to take over control from the African National Congress (ANC) in the Beaufort West municipality.
After winning with an outright majority in the 2011 municipal elections, the ANC garnered just over 42% of the vote in the Karoo town this time round, losing out marginally to its arch rival, the DA.
The official opposition will now be looking for a bedfellow to cobble together a coalition.
The DA in the Western Cape remains in power but will have to negotiate political partnerships in hung councils.
With coalitions likely to be the way forward in areas like Witzenberg, Beaufort West and Prince Albert municipalities, several smaller parties have shown interest in possible coalitions.
While the FF Plus is open to the idea of a partnership government in the Hessequa Municipality, it has ruled out working with the ANC.
The Party's Corne Mulder said: “The ANC should not be made stronger, so we don’t want to do that and we won’t put them in power. Our point of departure is what is in the interest of the public.”
