The DA is pinning its hopes on running the Eastern Cape alongside coalition partners who share the same values.
DA Eastern Cape leader Nqaba Bhanga, during a Facebook Live interview, revealed that while the party’s manifesto was centred on securing borders, creating jobs and service delivery, it was keen on partnering with like-minded parties should the ANC’s support drop below 50% in the upcoming elections.
“The future of South African politics embraces coalition governments.
“It’s not only a South African phenomenon, you can go to London and Germany, it’s the future of politics in the world generally.
“People in South Africa are beginning to embrace the diversity of ideas from different parties and here in the Eastern Cape we want to reduce the ANC’s support below 50%.
“And then for us to discuss a better coalition that has a plan and shares the plan that we have of stopping corruption, creating jobs, securing the borders and delivering services,” Bhanga said.
“If everybody shares the same values we will get into coalition with them.”
The DA and its coalition partners were at the helm of Nelson Mandela Bay from August 2016 until August 2018.
Bhanga said the coalition in Nelson Mandela Bay fell apart due to UDM president Bantu Holomisa’s refusal to remove Mongameli Bobani, who is now mayor.
“The problem with this coalition [in Nelson Mandela Bay] is that you had two parties, the DA who wanted to stop corruption and then you had another party with a corrupt individual who now has been seen by the president of the ANC and other people.”
Bhanga said he was happy Holomisa had conceded – during a debate in East London – that Bobani was troublesome.
“Holomisa is spineless because he can’t remove Bobani.
“We need leaders who are going to get into coalition who will disagree with you on a matter of principle, not on a matter of whether to protect a corrupt individual,” he said.
Bhanga said Holomisa had disappointed him in his failure to act and expel Bobani.
“We need men and women who can stand up in difficult and nice times – Mr Holomisa lacks that.”
Speaking on the DA’s offering for economic development leading up to the election, Bhanga said the party would fix municipal infrastructure that is deemed “unrehabilitatable” in towns such as Mthatha, while restoring the town to its former glory as the economic hub of the Eastern Cape.
“Mthatha today is the dirtiest place I have ever seen.
“My plan is to construct roads and service infrastructure that has not been serviced for many years.
“The ANC has failed to service that infrastructure. We will service the infrastructure.
“Mthatha was formerly the best place to live but now noone wants to live there.”
On revitalising small towns, Bhanga said the DA would ensure that the lights were kept on and the water was flowing through taps.
“The crisis of water and electricity in small towns kills businesses in small towns.
“We have to revitalise them by fixing government first, we will turn this around and also introduce agro-processing initiatives so opportunities are created in the farming towns.”
In response to Bhanga’s comments, Holomisa said: “[Bhanga] must go to hell.”
Meanwhile, Bobani said he would not argue with the DA and its premier candidate, who he claimed, was surrounded by scandal himself.