ANC could lose control of two major metros over shaky coalition deal

After the municipal elections, the ANC entered into a coalition with the African Independent Congress (AIC) on the basis that it would reincorporate Matatiele from the Eastern Cape into KwaZulu-Natal.

But the coalition deal is now on shaky grounds after Mandla Galo, president of the AIC, questioned why the ANC had allegedly reneged on its promise and was dragging its feet in attending to the matter. Gado told The Sowetan he has now issued an ultimatum, threatening to withdraw from the partnership that saw the ANC keep power in Ekurhuleni and Rustenburg on a very tight majority.

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Matatiele was rezoned into the Eastern Cape, and members of that community have been protesting against this for the past 15 years. They contend that under KwaZulu-Natal, they were offered better service delivery despite both provinces being governed by the ruling party.

The deadline set by the AIC is March 31.

“They [ANC] are benefiting in Ekurhuleni and Rustenburg … but we are still without anything that shows commitment from the ANC,” said Galo.

A meeting with ANC officials would determine if the AIC stayed in the coalition next week, Galo, who is currently in Davos for the World Economic Forum, added.

Jessie Duarte and Gwede Mantashe, the ANC’s deputy secretary-general and secretary-general respectively, said the matter still had to be discussed in parliament and was not a simple decision to make.

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