Cape Town — ActionSA and the African National Congress (ANC) have accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of neglecting the black townships in Tshwane.
The relationship between ActionSA and the DA has become strained since the two parties joined forces in 2021. ActionSA leader, Hermna Mashaba described the relationship as abusive and toxic and expressed his desire to end ties with the blue party.
However, Mayor Cilliers Brink did not want to see the coalition between the two parties come to an end and reached out to ActionSA to air their grievances and continue working to preserve what they have built in Tshwane.
Now, both ActionSA and the ACN have called for Brink to step down as the parties prepared a motion of no confidence against the Tshwane mayor.
In a statement, Herman Mashaba said the DA has been at the centre of instability in Gauteng and gave reasons such as the Randall Williams tenure, and the deliberate spoiling of votes as reasons behind the instability and collapse of previous coalitions. He also said the DA has failed to improve service delivery, which has affected townships.
“Further to this, ActionSA structures and voters have rightly raised growing frustration about the disparate levels of service delivery in Tshwane, which is impacting residents most fundamentally, especially those living in townships across Tshwane,” he said.
ActionSA has noted the deliberate effort orchestrated by the DA to falsely accuse us of the very actions they have repeatedly demonstrated themselves to be guilty of, that being treachery, dishonesty and hypocrisy.https://t.co/N18fNlnaVT
ActionSA is and will forever only be…
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) August 30, 2024
According to EWN, the ANC’s regional secretary, George Matjila, said the ANC has given Brink a chance to prove himself but now the scorecard is in and Brink has faile, citing the poor service delivery in the townships.
“We have always complained about the lack of service delivery more particularly in the townships, when they speak about improvements, they don’t represent what is happening in the townships,” Matjila said.
ActionSA’s Jackie Mathabathe agreed with Matjila’s comments and said it was important to take services to people on the ground, and that it was important to put the residents ahead of the party.
Brink said he was worried about ActionSA joining forces with the ANC to remove him, but was more concerned over the possibility of an ActionSA-ANC-EFF coaliton, IOL reported.
Tshwane is currently governed b a coalition of the DA, ActionSA, IFP, ACDP. Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and Defenders of the People (DOP). Brink is aware of the motion of no confidence against him and Brink has responded to the issues of services delivery.
“Tough performance standards have been imposed for service providers, including waste collection contractors. A credible plan is being implemented to get clean water into the taps of the people of Hammanskraal and to eliminate dependence on water tankers,” he said,
He explained the the Townlands Social Housing Project has been completed., which will give hundreds of people the chance to move into homes closer to work and schools.
Providing clean water to Hammanskraal residents was one of my early top priorities and this led to the establishment of a working relationship with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation back in 2023. #TshwaneWorks pic.twitter.com/NgAq1hU0ih
— Cilliers Brink (@CilliersB) August 29, 2024
Picture: X/@insightfactor
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
