ActionSA has announced its intention to have Dr. Nasiphi Moya, the party’s Tshwane deputy mayor, step into the role of mayor following the ousting of former mayor Cilliers Brink in a no-confidence motion. Party leader Herman Mashaba revealed this during a press briefing, stating that Moya’s nomination will be a key part of negotiations with the ANC to form the next government in the capital city.
Mashaba emphasised Moya’s deep understanding of Tshwane’s inner workings, making her the ideal candidate to take over the reins. “There’s no better person who knows the city more than her,” Mashaba told reporters, highlighting her experience in local governance. He explained that ActionSA’s support of the ANC’s no-confidence motion was contingent upon Moya assuming the mayoral position.
“We now have an assignment within the next few days to get together with the ANC and put together a government that will serve the residents of Tshwane,” Mashaba added. He also made it clear that without ActionSA’s backing, the ANC would struggle to form a government on its own, signaling the party’s pivotal role in the capital’s power dynamics.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has wasted no time in responding to the leadership shake-up, reaffirming their support for Cilliers Brink. Solly Msimango, DA leader in Gauteng, stated that the party intends to re-nominate Brink as their candidate for mayor, despite his recent removal.
In a strongly worded statement, Msimango criticised the alliance between ActionSA and the ANC, claiming it has thrown the city into disarray and would ultimately benefit the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). “We will not abandon the residents to the chaos caused by the ANC, enabled by ActionSA,” Msimango said, defending Brink’s track record and insisting that his leadership had been making progress in Tshwane.
Msimango also questioned the coherence of ActionSA’s strategy, pointing out that the ANC had not publicly agreed to support Moya’s candidacy, despite Mashaba’s claims. “Herman Mashaba told journalists they had a deal with the ANC to make Nasiphi Moya the mayor. This was immediately contradicted by the ANC,” he said, describing Mashaba as a “useful idiot” who had unwittingly facilitated the collapse of a functional government..
Mashaba’s push for Moya, alongside the DA’s staunch support for Brink, sets the stage for intense negotiations in the coming days. If ActionSA and the ANC can strike an agreement, Tshwane could see a significant shift in its leadership. However, with the DA aiming to reclaim the mayoralty, the political future of the city remains uncertain.
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