Faizel Patel, 2016-08-17
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has reached coalition agreements with several smaller parties including the Congress of the People (COPE), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus).
DA leader Mmusi Maimane made the announcement at a press conference in Johannesburg today.
Maimane says the DA engaged with all the opposition parties to ensure any coalition would have the public’s interest at heart.
“This agreement has had to be set nationally, for the purpose on ensuring that we could really discuss how best we do local government within a constitutional framework.”
Maimane says the DA had negotiated in good faith with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), but it was clear they would never agree on ideological issues.
“There are many positions that are so vastly different between these two parties and that is why democracy provides that both parties must exist.”
Maimane however welcomed the EFF’s offer to vote for the DA in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
“”It is an offer they made themselves, which means there is no agreement between us and the EFF. There is not coalition government in this instance. I welcome their offer that they will vote for us.”
Maimane reiterated that while the DA negotiated with many smaller parties, it was not prepared to form any agreement with the African National Congress (ANC).
Earlier the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said that while his party would not form a coalition with the Democratic Alliance, the DA was the “better devil” and it would vote with the party in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Malema also said he did not enter into a political agreement with the African National Congress (ANC) because the ruling party were non-committal on a number of issues.
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