The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has remained tight-lipped on its coalition with the EFF and the ANC in the Knysna Municipality after the party recently joined a grand coalition between the ANC, DA, IFP to form what has been termed a Government of National Unity (GNU).
Knysna, which has been plagued by poor service delivery, has come under the spotlight in recent months with its municipal manager Ombali Sebola ousted by court order.
Following the national elections, which forced the ANC into bed with the DA and other smaller parties, questions have been asked about the future of coalitions in municipalities where the ANC governs with the EFF, with the assistance of other parties.
In Ekurhuleni, EFF leader Julius Malema had given the ANC an ultimatum to either reinstate Nkululeko Dunga to the position of finance MMC or the party will withdraw from all local government coalitions with the ANC across the country.
In eThekwini, the ANC recalled its mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, only to be deployed to the National Council of Provinces. While the ANC and EFF did not respond to enquiries by deadline on Knysna, the PA on Monday declined to comment on the future of the coalition.
PA spokesperson Steve Motale said: “We have no comment.”
The DA said it remained the opposition in Knysna. Its constituency head for Knysna Dion George said the coalitions were currently just at national level and the two provinces (Gauteng and KZN). George said “it does not mean” the same coalitions would be formed in Knysna.
Meanwhile, Knysna council has appointed Setloane Malepeng from Paarl as acting municipal manager for three months or until the vacancy has been filled. Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa said council will start the process of appointing a new municipal manager after Sebola’s removal.
Policy analyst Nkosikhulule Nyembezi said the GNU set-up will progressively affect some municipalities in many ways than others as the 2026 local government elections near.
“Some political parties such as the EFF will either jump or be pushed from mayoral committee positions they hold, thus triggering councillor resignations that create waves of by-elections as a strategy to continue with referendums on the acceptance or rejection of the ANC-DA co-operation agreement. We can expect unpredictability, surprises, ructions and new lessons to mark the facets of politics to change in all spheres of government as the ingredients of the co-operation agreements bring us to uncertain territory with many unknowns regarding the extent to which the intra-party and inter-party dynamics might either advance or derail the prospects of effective government.”
Cape Times