ActionSA eyes Speaker positions in Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni
The party has announced intentions to partner with the African National Congress (ANC) to aid the administration of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
FILE: ActionSA president Herman Mashaba at the party's inaugural policy conference at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on 12 September 2023. Picture: X/HermanMashaba
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA is looking to gain a foothold in Gauteng metros, with the party now gunning for Speaker positions in the Joburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni councils.
The party has announced intentions to partner with the African National Congress (ANC) to aid the administration of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
During a media briefing on Monday, the party said it would remain in the opposition in the metros but would collaborate with the ANC on an issue-by-issue basis.
The African People's Convention (AIC)'s Margaret Arnolds currently occupies the Speaker's office in the City of Joburg after she was voted into the position with the backing of the ANC.
Similarly, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Nthabiseng Tshivhenga was elected to the same position in Ekurhuleni through the backing of the ANC and smaller political parties.
But following ActionSA's newly established relationship with the ANC, party leader, Herman Mashaba, wants his organisation to occupy the Speaker office in both municipalities.
"ActionSA will use the Speaker positions, and holding some of the position within the legislature is going to help us officially to hold them accountable without us just making noise in council and issuing press statements and no one doing anything about it."
While ActionSA currently co-governs Tshwane with the Democratic Alliance (DA), it also wants the Speaker office in the capital city, which is currently occupied by the African Transformation Movement (ATM)'s Mncedi Ndwanana.