ActionSA won't be leaving the DA-led governing coalition in Tshwane yet

JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA says it won't be leaving the Democratic Alliance-led governing coalition in the City of Tshwane municipality, despite its exit from the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa (MPC)
 
In a media briefing on Thursday morning, ActionSA announced its exit from the MPC due to parties breaching the agreement to not work with the African National Congress (ANC).

The parties governing the capital city are all in the MPC.

With 18 seats in the Tshwane Council, ActionSA forms a big part of the governing coalition.

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The municipality’s Deputy Mayor and MMC for Economic Development are both ActionSA councillors.

However, despite its frustration with members of the MPC, ActionSA’s national chairperson Michael Beaumont said the party refused to create instability in the capital city.

“We are not going to punish the residents of Tshwane because of what other political parties have done. When we enter arrangements, we enter them for the residents and the people of this country not for other political parties.”

Beaumont said should the DA get into bed with the ANC - which also extends to local governments - it would exit the Tshwane executive.

'ACTIONSA AND ANC ARE MILES APART' - MASHABA

Furthermore, ActionSA said under no circumstances would it work with the ANC.

The party said this would be a betrayal of its voters and its principles. 

ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba, said the party was formed with the mission of removing the ANC from government because of its failures. 

He said it would not make sense for ActionSA to contribute in keeping the ANC in government. 

“In terms of our economic policies, in terms of our approach to national unity, fighting corruption, ethical leadership, I can go on and on. So ActionSA and ANC we are miles apart I cannot see how one can close those differences.”