GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Even though there is no confirmation of any coalition between the two larger parties (ANC and DA) and any of the three smaller parties (EFF, FFP and CSA) in the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM), it can be confirmed that negotiations are taking place.
Earlier this week CSA members based in Graaff-Reinet expressed their discontent relating to alleged covert negotiations between the ANC and the CSA.
Allegedly, the President of the CSA, Cheslin Felix, conducted coalition discussions with the ANC over the weekend without informing the CSA membership. When contacted for comment, Felix vehemently denied all allegations relating to the negotiations.
Felix visited Willowmore, Steytlerville, Jansenville and Graaff-Reinet to discuss the options for a coalition with CSA members, with Willowmore and Steytlerville allegedly leaning in favour of a coalition with the ANC and Jansenville and Graaff-Reinet in favour of the DA.
Sias Smith, convener of the CSA in Graaff-Reinet, made it clear that they do not approve of any coalition with the ANC.
The CSA was offered as an alternative to the ANC, and they would certainly not have supported the party if they knew that it would result in any form of support to the ANC. According to Smith, they are tired of being overlooked and blame the ANC for their challenges relating to, inter alia, service delivery, electricity, and water. "As die skoene jou druk, trek jy die skoene uit en trek ander skoene aan," says Smith.
According to Samantha Graham-Maré, DA Member of Parliament, negotiations at local level are not allowed and are conducted at national level.
Riaan van Heerden, FFP Counselor for the DBNLM, confirmed that negotiations are taking place between Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FFP, and John Steenhuisen, leader of the DA. Van Heerden says Dr Groenewald made it clear that they will never go into any coalition with the ANC or the EFF.
Graham-Maré explained that the municipality might be placed under administration by the province if there is a hung council and the parties find it impossible to negotiate through the impasse.
If that happens, re-election will have to be called within 90 days.
At this stage, it is not known who the members of the executive council in the DBNLM will be since the executive council seats still have to be allocated by the IEC. As soon as the council is elected, the parties need to negotiate around the allocation of portfolios and the outcome of these negotiations will determine who the chairpersons of the different portfolios will be.
(Attempts to get comment from the EFF were unsuccessful.)
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