Gauteng ANC looks to persuade opposition parties to keep Lesufi as premier after DA files no-confidence motion

The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng will need to convince opposition parties in the provincial legislature to keep Panyaza Lesufi as premier.

This as the party doesn’t have the required number of votes to secure the top position. 

Lesufi’s future hangs in the balance after the Democratic Alliance (DA) filed a motion of no confidence against him.

The party’s bid to remove him from office was prompted by the public protector’s damning report into the legality of the Gauteng crime prevention wardens.

The chapter nine institution has found that the establishment of the unit had no legal mandate.

The Gauteng provincial legislature is made up of 80 seats and eleven political parties.

The ANC-led coalition holds 32 seats, meaning it currently leads a minority government.

For the DA’s motion of no confidence against Lesufi to succeed, at least 41 votes against him are needed.

This means the ANC will need to persuade at least nine opposition members to secure a 50% plus one majority to keep Lesufi in office.

DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said that inter-party negatiations would soon begin.

"I’m not naïve enough to think that this is going to be smooth sailing, so we are going to engage all the political parties. We would be failing if we don’t do anything."

Msimanga said that should Lesufi be removed, he would step forward to replace him.