The future of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) collaboration in the Johannesburg, Tshwane and Mandela Bay Metro’s remains unclear after this week’s events.
The DA’s mayor in Mandela Bay, Athol Trollip was ousted with the help of the EFF, while its mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga survived when the EFF withdrew its motion of no confidence and walked out of council, causing the African National Congress (ANC) to also withdraw its motion.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane has called for talks with the EFF’s national leadership, but the EFF has yet to respond in public.
Unisa political analyst, Professor Lesibo Tefo says parties in coalitions must learn to respect their political partners.
“Administrator remains administrator, politicians remain politician, but once you blur the line, you find yourself in the situation where we find ourselves. The DA must accept it’s a leader among equals. It must respect co-partners, it must consult with them, but the co-partners must understand the one who got numerical strength is the one who leads the coalition. Mutual respect is the key, mutual respect is important. All the partners must understand that but most importantly the DA must understand that,” says Tefo.
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