ActionSA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) said on Monday they were waiting to see if the Democratic Alliance (DA) would support Tuesday’s Motions of No Confidence to remove the “disastrous” City of Johannesburg Mayor Thapelo Amad, as well as the Speaker and Chief Whip in Johannesburg.

The parties noted that the DA’s own caucus in Johannesburg has filed its own Motions of No Confidence against the same people. 

DA leader John Steenhuisen communicated that the party will not participate in any coalition that could replace the African National Congress (ANC) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Johannesburg on Tuesday. 

Over the weekend political parties received letters from Steenhuisen in which the DA said it would not form part of a coalition that involves the Patriotic Alliance (PA) in Johannesburg in the near future. 

This follows a meeting held on April 19 between leadership of the DA, ActionSA, PA, IFP, Freedom Front Plus and ACDP to discuss the support for Motions of No Confidence to remove Amad, and to replace his ANC and EFF government with a multi-party coalition including the parties that elected Mayor Mpho Phalatse in November 2021.

The political parties explained that the DA’s refusal to work with the PA is effectively sending the message that a coalition that includes the PA is worse than the ‘doomsday’ scenario.

“The work of keeping the ANC and EFF out in 2024, and removing them next week in Joburg, cannot be exclusive or elitist and it requires link-minded political parties to put aside their differences to fix South Africa. It is worth noting that the DA’s refusal to form a coalition with the PA has resulted in the multi-party coalition in Tshwane continuing without a majority following the resignation of a DA ward councillor. This vacancy resulted in the failure to pass the Adjustments Budget, and the failure to bring the PA on board may prevent the passing of the 2023/24 Tshwane budget in May,” the parties said.

They went on to explain that it was clear that the ANC and EFF were forcing compromised mayors, like Amad, on Joburg residents.

“Amad has proven to be entirely incapable of governing the City, and has no coherent vision. If the DA is indeed committed to good governance, it should work to remove Amad and elect a mayor that is capable of leading a city with complex challenges like Johannesburg,” they said.

The political parties want the DA to rethink its approach and to “do the right thing” by the residents of Johannesburg and all South Africans who seek a viable alternative to the ANC and EFF in 2024.

“Our parties are mindful of the need to build consensus around a multi-party coalition to unseat the ANC and EFF in 2024 and it is in this spirit that we do not berate the DA. We rather urge them to return to the table and reconsider the dire implications of their position. The removal of this ANC and EFF puppet government is no longer a Johannesburg project but rather one with national consequence to the future of our country. Now is the time to back up stated intentions of cooperation that benefit all South Africans with real actions,” the parties said.