There was still no agreement by late on Friday afternoon over who will govern Cape Town. Talks between political parties were set to take place over the weekend in a bid to reach a settlement. ”We are waiting on various parties to get back to us on a variety of options and proposals,” said Ryan Coetzee of the Democratic Alliance.
”We are waiting on various parties to get back to us on a variety of options and proposals,” said Ryan Coetzee of the Democratic Alliance.
The DA’s mayoral claim is based on the fact that it won 42% of the vote in the recent municipal elections, with the African National Congress second and the Independent Democrats (ID) third.
Coetzee said progress has been made, with nothing conclusive emerging from negotiations that started a week ago.
The ANC’s James Ngculu said talks were continuing, possibly over the weekend, with next Wednesday’s first council meeting expected to elect the city’s new mayor.
Political parties were manoeuvring to woo smaller parties, some with only one seat in council, in a bid to form a coalition that would give them the 106 seats needed to form a majority in the 210-seat council.
Commenting on the nature of the negotiations, Ngculu said: ”Sometimes you think things are going well, but other things come up and give it a twist.”
He said broad agreement had been reached among parties on a number of issues. These included the proposed multi-party system, the question of inclusivity, and the need for delivery with a pro-poor bias.
”The sticking point is the detail,” he said, echoing Coetzee’s sentiments.
The ID, which may hold the key to the mayor’s parlour, was in favour of a multi-party democracy.
On Friday, ID leader Patricia de Lille was not immediately available for comment on progress and the way forward.
Pauline Cupido of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) said it favoured an executive council constituted on the number of votes cast, which meant the DA would have four executive council seats, the ANC three, the ID two and the ACDP one.
”The ACDP’s first priority is a multi-party government. If it is not possible then Cape Town will be formed into an opposition government.”
Cupido said the DA and ANC needed to give direction to other parties on what was proposed at the negotiating table. — Sapa