Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
11 September 2024 | 12:00 p.m. SAST
1-minute read

Image: ActionSA

The African National Congress (ANC) has tabled yet another motion of no confidence in Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink, who is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA). The move is indicative of the ANC’s confidence in support from ActionSA to institute a change of guard at the Tshwane metro level.

Political Analyst Professor Vasti Roodt, in an interview on Radio Islam International, said that ActionSA’s decision to go back on its commitment to stay away from a coalition with the ANC is not surprising, and possibly stems from the party’s need to markedly differentiate itself from the DA.

ActionSA will also potentially lend its support to the ANC to improve its chances of governing at the local government level, thereby boosting its profile on the national stage.

Professor Roodt said that the national coalition is not automatically converting into provincial and local government coalition in terms of collaboration between the ANC and DA because of the extreme differences in governing at national and local levels.

“Local government is…where voters see successes and failures very immediately, very directly. Whereas at national level, one is concerned with national policy. And in a way, if one makes more general decisions that are supposed to focus on national priorities, it’s kind of easier to be in a coalition. When it is about local matters, where one is really seen as a politician, I think there the competition can be much more fractured,” Professor Roodt said.

The motion of no confidence is the ANC’s third attempt this year to remove Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink. While the previous two motions were withdrawn before reaching the voting stage, it appears likely that this one will be voted on soon.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.