The relationship between the ANC and the EFF in the governing of municipalities appears to be over as the ANC has admitted that it is looking to now extend its relationship with its partners of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) to hung municipalities.
The party on Wednesday said it is engaging with its partners in the GPU in municipalities that are hung – the DA, ANC, IFP and the NFP are members of the GPU.
The ANC had a “loose” working arrangement with the EFF, while EFF leaders had on previous occasions strenuously denied there was a formal working relationship, stating they are not in coalition with the ANC and only voted with the party on an item-by-item basis.
The ANC has said it is concerned about the stability and performance of municipalities in the province heading to the 2026 local government elections.
The party said it had met with its partners on Monday and the issue of working together in hung municipalities was discussed.
These revelations, plus the acrimonious end of the relationship between the IFP and the EFF, and the fact that the DA has stated it does not want to work with the EFF, make it clear that the ANC is looking beyond the EFF for a stable relationship.
“We met with the IFP to discuss the issue and other issues, we have decided that the government that we have at the provincial level should be cascaded down to other municipalities that are hung,” said ANC spokesperson Mafika Mndebele.
“The IFP voted with the ANC in eThekwini and it voted with the ANC in uMzimkhulu to the extent that it will get the position of deputy mayor,” he said.
Mndebele also addressed the rumours that have surfaced that the mayor of KwaDukuza municipality was going to be recalled.
The rumours started after an audio clip surfaced where a senior leader of the ANC in the province is alleged to have said the mayor should be recalled and the municipality should be placed under administration in order to neutralise the municipal manager.
KwaDukuza is one of the major municipalities in the province based on its rates base, which includes areas like Ballito.
Last year allegations surfaced that the municipality had contributed towards transporting EFF members to its 10 birthday celebration and that it was failing to deal with the criminals that are stopping government projects.
Asked about the allegations that the mayor is to be recalled, Mndebele said that the ANC would communicate any matters that it needed to communicate officially through its spokesperson and would not be engaging on issues through the media.
DA leader Dean Macpherson said the party was still engaged in efforts to resolve a power-sharing arrangement in eThekwini and there was no discussion taking place about a “cascading down agreement”.
The DA was expected to be allocated the post of Trading Services committee in the eThekwini municipality.
“There are no talks at present after we could not find each other in eThekwini but our working relationship with the IFP through the service delivery pact remains,” said Macpherson.
The IFP did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.
The Mercury