The Independent Democrats (ID) on Thursday ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition government with the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape after next year’s election.
ID deputy leader Simon Grindrod said the party’s structures were opposed to any partnership that would see the ”Zuma camp”, led by ANC provincial chairperson, Mcebisi Skwatsha, governing the province.
”ID structures in the Western Cape have clearly indicated that the ID cannot allow the Western Cape to be governed by the Skwatsha-led Zuma camp,” he said in a statement.
Skwatsha and his allies were responsible for the current divisions in the province and as a result the ID, which is currently in a coalition government with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Cape Town, did not want to have any dealings with them.
”The people of the Western Cape are tired of those who put their personal power and greed above delivery to communities. The ID today serves notice on Mcebisi Skwatsha and his faction that we will work hard to prevent an ANC provincial government next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the DA on Thursday said it had already initiated talks with the ID to form a coalition provincial government after next year’s election.
DA chief executive Ryan Coetzee said in a statement the party was also open to talks with any other party that shared its vision.
He called on opposition parties to take full advantage of the current divisions within the ANC that had alienated voters from the party.
”The DA’s vision is that South Africans who share a commitment to the Constitution, non-racialism, a market-based economic policy, efficient service delivery and corruption-free government should ultimately come together to provide South Africa with an alternative to the ANC,” he said. — Sapa