ActionSA says agreement with Joburg ANC won’t end if understanding in Tshwane not reached

PRETORIA - ActionSA said it won't pull out of its agreement with the African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg if they don't reach an understanding in Tshwane ahead of a motion of no confidence vote in the mayor.

ActionSA recently withdrew from the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led multiparty coalition that has governed the City of Tshwane for three years.

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The party initially wanted to form an alternative government with the ANC and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). However, those talks have stalled.

Later on Thursday, councillors in Tshwane are set to decide on the future of Mayor Cilliers Brink and his committee.

At this stage, it is still unclear whether the ANC and ActionSA have reached an agreement.

What is known is that on Wednesday night, ANC leaders in Tshwane and Gauteng met with the party’s national leadership to determine whether they can proceed with removing the DA-led coalition in the capital city on Thursday.

It is also understood that the DA has been lobbying their Government of National Unity (GNU) partner to protect them in the capital city.

Meanwhile, in a recent episode of the Eyewitness News politics podcast, Politricking with Tshidi Madia, ActionSA’s national chairperson - Michael Beaumont - said whatever the ANC decides on Thursday would have no effect on their relationship in Johannesburg.

“We are in a position there to deliver value, to provide accountability, and to offer a pool of votes whenever political parties are being silly with theirs. At the end of the day, that is a public good for the residents of Johannesburg that I don’t think we should necessarily forego.”

Beaumont has made a similar promise before. He said ActionSA would not punish City of Tshwane residents by leaving the coalition because the DA broke their promise not to work with the ANC nationally.