ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has been slammed for turning his party “into the useful idiots of anti-constitutional forces in South African politics” after announcing a decision to ditch the multi-party coalition in Tshwane.
Mashaba’s announcement at the weekend to turn his back on the multiparty coalition hinted at his support for a looming move by the ANC to oust embattled DA Mayor Cilliers Brink through a motion of no confidence to be tabled on September 26.
Reacting to ActionSA’s political move, the DA lambasted Mashaba for driving his party into the “useful idiots of anti-constitutional forces in South African politics”, saying he has also in the process “jeopardised the future” of the Tshwane metro.
The DA’s national spokesperson, Willie Aucump, said: “The DA will fight to preserve the progress we have made with our coalition partners in Tshwane, and to stop Mashaba from delivering the worst possible outcome for the city.”
He said Tshwane should not face the same fate as Mashaba’s intent to destroy ActionSA, “which will surely be eviscerated in the 2026 local government election”.
The DA said ActionSA’s turn on the Tshwane coalition has nothing to do with service delivery, the residents or the metro’s future.
Aucump cited ActionSA’s recent utterances in which it took credit for some service delivery achievements recorded under the multiparty government they form part of, saying such conduct smacked of the party’s hypocrisy.
ActionSA has, for example, championed itself as a force behind a move to solve the water crisis in Hammanskraal.
Aucump said: “The party’s conduct towards coalition partners, supporters, and the public have been characterised by lies, deceit and betrayal.
“Less than two months ago the party was taking credit for the success of the Tshwane multi-party coalition, and described the ANC’s motion of no confidence in mayor Cilliers Brink as opportunistic.”
He said Mashaba is banking on a deal with the ANC and the EFF to elect an ActionSA mayor.
“The only way ActionSA’s ploy can work is if its new coalition includes the EFF, enthroning the party of chaos, hate, and violence as kingmakers in a new Tshwane coalition,” he said.
Yesterday, Mashaba said in a media statement that his party was aware of the thinking that it “plans to blindly go into a coalition in support of an ANC it has always sworn to never support”.
“We will never support, nor allow ActionSA to be used, to shield corruption and other forms of abuses, irrespective of whom we get into a coalition with,” he said.
He said the decision to consider an alternative municipal coalition government for Tshwane was dictated by both the multiparty post-electoral reality in South Africa and the many instances of mismanagement in Tshwane.
The decision, he said, has not been taken lightly, but with deep introspection and deliberation by ActionSA’s Senate -- the party’s highest decision-making body.
He pleaded with both the media and Tshwane residents to allow ActionSA a bit more time to consult with various possible coalition partners for the best outcome.
“The results of these consultations will be made public as soon as they are concluded,” he said.
Pretoria News
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za