This morning we told you about the looming deadline for political parties to come to some sort of coalition agreement or form minority governments with the risk of election re-runs that may not always benefit your party on the horizon.
On Tuesday the Patriotic Alliance (PA) announced a deal its leader, Gayton McKenzie described as “historic” when the PA and ANC reached a coalition agreement. What makes the agreement astounding rather than historic is the ANC agreed that the PA could have the mayorship in six to eight councils writes Natasha Marrian in the Financial Mail. (Subscribe to read)
“…its demands to go into a coalition deal with the ANC was that it get not one but eight mayoral seats across SA and full control of at least one council in the Northern Cape. The ANC agreed and voters were fed to the wolves by the governing party once again: it effectively went back on its promise not to enter coalitions “at all costs”.
Marrian writes the fundamental issue with the ANC is that it only understands patronage and power politics, and therefore it treated the PA as an equal partner when it is anything but equal.
No other dominant political party would have acquiesced to such a request from the minority partner in the coalition.
Denis Webster writes in New Frame about the Johannesburg City council, which seems destined to head the way of a “compromised coalition” of centrists or a right-wing bloc.
Meanwhile, the IFP announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with the ANC to co-operate together in KwaZulu-Natal but stressed that it was not a coalition agreement.
Where the ANC is the largest party it would from a government and where the IFP is the majority it would form a government said IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa. The IFP would remain in the opposition benches where the ANC has a majority.
There will be plenty of twists and turns before the deadline on Tuesday, November 23, be sure to keep your eyes peeled to SAccess for all the latest news.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analysis, and editorials:
EDITORIAL: Zuma’s tax – a victory for transparency – Financial Mail
EDITORIAL: Tight call for Reserve Bank on rates as global factors weigh – Business Day
KATE THOMPSON DAVY: Painting the continent red: Vodacom is betting big on fintech – Business Day (Subscribe to read)
CAIPHUS KGOSANA | Diversity is strength in SA. That’s why the ANC is weakening – Sunday Times Daily (Register to read)
Melanie Verwoerd | Enough with the bluster, form the municipalities already – News24 (Subscribe to read)
South Africa’s health system is on its knees: the budget offers no relief – Mail & Guardian
FW de Klerk’s death is an opportunity to liberate ourselves from the prison of bitterness – Daily Maverick
