ActionSA Eastern Cape Chairman, Athol Trollip; Photo: X/AtholT
ActionSA Eastern Cape chairman Athol Trollip says the only reason the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is considering a coalition with the ANC and calling for Floyd Shivambu to become finance minister is because he wanted to steal from the country's coffers. He said it was because of it.
Mr Trollip made the remarks while responding to a question about the coalition government at a party-sponsored national election debate. email and guardian and the University of Fort Hare on Wednesday night.
Senior representatives from the ANC, EFF, ActionSA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Democratic Alliance (DA) took part in the debate.
EFF president Julius Malema told JJ Thabane earlier this month: frank dialogue The party has indicated it would consider forming a coalition with the ANC if EFF deputy president Shivambu is given the post of finance minister.
“If we don't get 50%, I am prepared to give the EFF vote nationally to the ANC. I don't need the glory of vice-president or president. I demand one thing: Floyd Shivambu as Treasurer. Make him a minister. That’s it,” Malema said.
In Wednesday's debate, Mr Trollip questioned why the EFF wanted control of the Treasury.
“There are other parties, like the EFF, who have said that if they don't get a majority, they will vote for the ANC provided they elect this person. [Floyd Shivambu] Minister of Finance. Why do they want the Treasury? They are trying to steal.
“There is another party that is part of our multiparty coalition government and they have said they would consider forming a coalition with the worst party.” [available] option. “We are not going to be in or out of a coalition, we are in the MPC and we are not going to form a coalition with the ANC or the EFF,” he said.
Mr Trollip said some political parties were entering into deal deals for the sake of “stomach politics”. He said some political parties prefer chaos because it allows corruption.
He said the era of one-party rule and hegemony in South Africa was over and the ANC needed to get used to it. The Union will last a long time.
He acknowledged that although the Union of South Africa's performance had not been good, it was improving. “Experience can only be gained through action. The whole point of experience is learning who you can trust and who you can't.”
IFP vice-chairman Mzamo Buthelezi said the party had been involved in coalition governments for a long time and there was stability in all municipalities co-governed by IFP. These federations would not be able to survive without the IFP, he said.
“Even when we were in charge of KwaZulu-Natal, we invited other parties, even the ANC, to come and govern with us. So we are not new to this game.”
Buthelezi said some political parties form coalitions that allow individuals to benefit personally.
He said clear laws were needed to prevent political parties who wanted to embezzle funds through coalitions from doing so.
“We will exclude such parties, and when we form coalitions, we will form them with like-minded parties who are in this to provide services, and we will not allow anything like this kingmaker. Some parties will come in the morning, agree that we will co-govern, and say, “Here are our demands, and if we fail, we will withdraw them.'' ”
ANC NEC member Parks Tau said the reality is that the federation is not working, has proven difficult to manage and is throwing people into a system of governance that has broken up municipalities. said.
He said the coalition government was failing due to opportunism.
“You can go to Tshwane today, but the reality for people in the capital is very harsh and that reality is what they feel every day.”
DA chief of staff Siviwe Gwalbe said it was the wealth gained from Tau that was making the coalition dysfunctional because it was good when the ANC was “feeding” but it is not good now that it is not feeding anymore. Ta.
Gwalbe said the coalition government will continue to exist, but what is needed is mature political leadership and legislation to ensure the regularization of the coalition government.
“The ANC is being relegated to opposition every day and the coalition is part of South Africa's democracy. This is our current position and the voters have given us this kind of mandate, so we We have to ask ourselves how we are politically maturing as a party and how we are involving residents and citizens in our work.”
Economic Freedom Fighters deputy head Floyd Shivambu said there was no instability in the municipalities ruled by the EFF.
“We are in charge of Nelson Mandela's key critical departments. [Bay metro] — Power and Infrastructure. In Johannesburg, we are responsible for community health and social development, and we are also responsible for public safety. ”
“If you want to know, there is no unstable government in Johannesburg. If you go and fly the robots, you will see that the police under the leadership of the EFF will take you to prison. In Ekurhuleni City, we He has led a stable government.
