ANC NEC supports cutting ties with ‘dictatorial’ EFF and pro-Israel PA in municipal coalitions

At the ANC’s most recent National Executive Committee (NEC) sitting earlier in October, the party’s head of political education, David Makhura, set out in a document that the EFF was not an acceptable coalition partner because it was a “proto-fascist party run dictatorially”. 

The document, seen by Daily Maverick, states that the EFF has no regard for good governance and its antipathy towards ANC leaders is borne out of the self-interest of its leaders.

“[The EFF is] embedded in corrupt practices and links with criminal business syndicates such as the cigarette mafia, which it publicly defended. It supports the Constitution and the law when decisions favour it,” the document reads.

The ANC wants to review its partnership with the EFF as coalitions with the party have been damaging. The governing party believes that the red berets have used coalitions to contest their social base and further damage the ANC’s brand.

“Although research and by-elections show that the EFF is still growing, mainly in the traditional base of the ANC, its growth is levelling up below 20%. Accordingly, it has adopted a new strategy to gain power through coalitions with the ANC, so that it can demonstrate its ability to deliver,” the document reads.

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The party is also looking at cutting ties with the Patriotic Alliance (PA). The decision was also guided by the PA’s recent views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

PA leader Gayton McKenzie has been quoted saying that his party is willing to relinquish working with ANC in Joburg rather than change its stance on Israel to instead favour Palestine. The ANC has had a longstanding history with Palestine and has openly supported it.

The proposal to terminate all coalition arrangements with the EFF and the PA will be taken to the National Task Team on Coalitions and a report will be presented to the National Officials and the National Working Committee.

Where it all began

The ANC in Gauteng has been working closely with the EFF this year in an attempt to unseat the DA from power in municipalities.

This move was denounced by the ANC Veterans' League, which deems the EFF as an unreliable partner.

The ANC-EFF marriage has succeeded in removing DA mayors in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Mogale City, while it failed to do the same in Tshwane.

This has seen the EFF for the first time assuming positions in mayoral committees.

The PA also works with the ANC in several municipalities and was the kingmaker in removing the DA in Johannesburg.

The PA and DA had an agreement in the City of Joburg, which collapsed when the PA worked with the ANC and EFF in council, allowing a motion of no confidence to be passed against then mayor Mpho Phalatse of the DA.

At the time, the PA had demanded two positions on the mayoral committee in Johannesburg and mayoral committee positions in the Ekurhuleni metro — to which the DA did not agree.

An ANC NEC member told Daily Maverick that while the party knew that there would be major consequences if it ditched the EFF and PA, “we are willing to be at the opposition benches”. DM