MBOMBELA – The ANC is set to lose control in a number of municipalities during the local government elections on August 3.
Dr Mathews Phosa, the former premier of Mpumalanga, who also served as the ANC’s treasurer general, last week told Lowvelder that he expected the governing parties in many municipalities to change.
“You can win power or lose it. You have to be prepared to go into opposition. It is going to happen in many municipalities this time.
“The DA is growing stronger, more than any other party. The EFF has grown a little, but but not too much. People are scared of their negativity.”
While the situation is evolving, Phosa thinks it very likely that the ANC will lose Nelson Mandela Bay to the DA or a DA-led coalition. In Gauteng things are also 50/50 for the first time: Johannesburg and Tshwane can go either way and force either the ANC or DA into a coalition to win power.
Phosa added that Polokwane was very unpredictable, while Rustenburg could also go the EFF. Even in Tlokwe the new Service Delivery Party could cause the ANC headaches.
The recent recipient of two African Achievers Awards considers the competition among parties to be crucial for democracy. “A multiparty system is the only way. There are more political parties now than ever before. There is more debate, more choice. It is good for democracy.
“Anyone who wins or loses must accept it. It gives us an assurance that no party will rule a city or a town or a country forever. It is that element of democracy we must internalise.”
Phosa is not discounting his own possible return to active politics. “All options are on the table.”
He added he understood the youth’s demand that the old guard make way for them to lead, but phasing out struggle heroes would happen organically and slowly.
“The youth are angry. They feel that their councillors are being excluded.
“I don’t think anybody is irrelevant. The normal thing in society is you mix generations as you phase out the old guys. You don’t get rid of people. Young guys need experience and need to be mentored into the future.”
