It’s just a friendly chat, say parties

It is only talks about talks, not a coalition just yet.

This is the word from the DA and UDM national leaders after a  behind-the-scenes meeting in Gauteng this week over the control of Nelson Mandela Bay.

The two parties have been on opposite sides of the fence in the Bay since May 2017 when then DA mayor Athol Trollip fired UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani from his position as deputy mayor.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa held talks  with DA interim leader John Steenhuisen and the party’s governance unit head, James Selfe, in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Meanwhile, their counterparts in Port Elizabeth held a late-night meeting with representatives of other smaller parties at a boutique hotel on the beachfront on Wednesday.

Representatives of five parties — the DA, UDM, ACDP, COPE and the United Front — attended the Bay meeting.

Insiders said the discussions centred on stopping  the ANC  from regaining power ahead of next year’s municipal elections.

A potential sticking point to any partnership or coalition was the role Bobani — a divisive figure who was recently axed as the Bay’s  mayor — might play.  

Wednesday’s meeting started just before 8pm at the Ahoy Boutique Hotel in Humewood and wrapped up two hours later.

The first to arrive  was ACDP regional chair Marianne Lotter, followed by the DA’s council chief whip, Kabelo Mogatosi, and caucus leader Rano Kayser.

Making a surprise appearance was the metro’s acting human settlements executive director, Mvuleni Mapu, who remained outside the venue.

Mapu was brought back to the municipality recently during Bobani’s tenure after being suspended for three years over allegations of misconduct and corruption.

Mapu was seen speaking to United Front provincial executive committee member Lungile Mxube outside the venue’s entrance.

UDM regional organiser Luxolo Namette and the party’s ward 55 councillor candidate, Nomakhaya Ntozini, then showed up.

DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga, who is said to have called the meeting, arrived nearly two hours late.

Insiders said Bobani was not at the meeting and COPE’s representative arrived late.

As party members entered the venue and spotted The Herald’s reporters, some ducked and tried to cover their faces, seemingly embarrassed to be seen in attendance.

While chatting with Mapu outside the venue, Mxube kept pointing at the reporters’ vehicle,  before finally entering the premises.

The discussions, which have intensified in the past two weeks, came just six weeks after Bobani was ousted as mayor at a council meeting on December 5.

At that meeting, the DA, COPE, ACDP, ANC, AIC and PA voted in favour of Bobani’s removal.

The AIC’s Thsonono Buyeye was then appointed acting mayor.

Yesterday, ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom said the discussions mostly involved how to stop the ANC from taking control of the city.

“Everyone went and listened to what the DA had to say. We spoke about lots of possibilities but nothing was cast in stone,” he said.

He said the parties discussed the  possibility of forming an alliance to ensure the ANC was consigned to the backbenches of the council.

“The DA is the majority party and it is better to form an alliance so the city is not placed under administration.

“The decision would have to be made by the national bosses,” Grootboom said.

“The city has a problem. There is no service delivery.

“We can’t allow the ANC to get back in. They want to take control to use the city’s coffers to campaign for the 2021 local government elections.

“I put my position on Bobani forward and, from my side, I don’t have a problem with the UDM  but I have a problem with an individual.

“He has been a problem for this city.

“I don’t know how we can remove him and then be expected to work with him?

“That was the question asked. Where do we stand with Bobani?

“Is this new deal coming with Bobani, who will get a position in the coalition?”

Grootboom said he would brief his national leaders on the meeting.

He said the discussions between the UDM and DA would have an influence on how the smaller parties reacted to any possible coalition.

“Should the DA endorse Bobani, that will be a problem.

“If they get into bed with Bobani again there may be problem with the ACDP joining any coalition.

“I am not putting that individual back. It is not personal.”

Another insider at the meeting described it as an introduction to the DA’s plans as the party had initially interacted with the other representatives individually.

“We don’t have a problem with the UDM, but the problem is Bobani.

“Everyone agreed that the one thing they don’t want is the ANC governing the metro because when we really looked at it, there are more things that unite us than those dividing us,” the insider said.

The United Front’s Mxube later denied being at any meeting.

“No, I am not aware of any official meeting that happened in Humewood,” he said when contacted.

When told that The Herald’s reporters had seen him enter the hotel, he said: “When you see me it does not mean I am in a meeting.

“When you see me anywhere that does not mean I am having a meeting.”

When asked what his thoughts were on what Bhanga had to say,  Mxube said: “You should speak to Bhanga. But I will contact you next week.”

Namette also denied attending the meeting.

When it was pointed out that he was dressed in a maroon T-shirt and shorts, he said it might have been someone who looked like him.

Finally, when he was told that a photograph had been taken of him at the venue, he admitted he was there but said he had been going about his own business.

“Besides, even today there’s a meeting between the UDM president and the DA,” Namette said.

COPE councillor Siyasanga Sijadu declined to comment.

Bhanga confirmed that representatives of various political parties attended the meeting, but said he would no longer discuss the issue with the media.

After the Johannesburg talks, Holomisa said the DA was keen to revive the relationship with the UDM after it soured soon after  the 2016 local government elections.

Steenhuisen said he found the “hysteria” over the party’s talks with other opposition parties odd.

“I don’t think it’s unusual for leaders of opposition parties to meet, there’s nothing shocking about it.

“We still have relationships in both Tshwane and Johannesburg and I don’t think there’s anything odd about meeting with them.

“There’s nothing to be shocked about, there’s nothing on the table, there’s no discussion about forming a coalition, it’s simply meeting leaders of these parties.

“I really find the hysteria slightly misplaced.

“I find it odd that some people regard it as a heresy for opposition parties to be talking to each other,” Steenhuisen said.

Holomisa said the UDM had welcomed the DA’s approach but he would have to hear from his party’s structures first before making any decision.

“We welcomed their initiative and the UDM is a flexible political party.

“All what we want is service delivery for the people.”

Holomisa said the previous coalition agreement  — and the factors that had led to it collapsing — had been discussed at length.