News
Ekurhuleni coalition crisis explodes as ANC and EFF clash over corruption claims
Ekurhuleni’s political temperature has shot up again, and this time it is not just about council seats. It is about trust, power, and who controls the purse strings of one of Gauteng’s biggest metros.
The EFF has officially pulled out of the government of local unity in Ekurhuleni after Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza reduced the party’s representation in the mayoral committee from four seats to two. What followed has been a public war of words between former coalition partners, with ActionSA dragged into the middle.
For residents already weary of coalition politics, it feels like yet another chapter in a saga that never quite settles.
ANC hits back hard
The ANC in the region has not held back. Regional secretary Jongiziwe Dlabathi told the media that the mayor does not regret cutting the EFF’s seats, arguing that their presence in the executive led to compromised governance.
Among the ANC’s claims is that decisions taken while the EFF held certain portfolios contributed to the shifting of key energy functions. According to Dlabathi, this resulted in undercollection of electricity revenue and left the city facing financial strain.
He also accused the EFF of manipulating tender processes in portfolios under their control, specifically mentioning a chemical toilet tender and a security tender. In his view, the party’s public stance on insourcing did not align with its actions in government.
Dlabathi further alleged that the removal of former council speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga was linked to her stance on good governance and rooting out corruption within the administration.
The ANC insists that the executive will be reconfigured and that the mayor will fill outstanding positions to ensure stability. Despite the fallout, Dlabathi has maintained that there is no crisis in the city’s leadership and that the focus is on stabilising governance.
EFF rejects corruption claims
The EFF has flatly denied the accusations. Provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga described the ANC’s claims as baseless and questioned why the ANC would have offered positions to the party if it truly believed it was corrupt.
He maintains that there is no material evidence showing that EFF deployees engaged in corruption. Instead, the party has turned the tables, accusing the ANC of wrongdoing within the municipality.
In typical coalition fashion, both sides are standing firm, each presenting itself as the defender of accountability while painting the other as the problem.
ActionSA drawn into the fray
ActionSA’s name surfaced when the ANC revealed that it had invited the party to join a reconfigured coalition. The ANC said it had offered ActionSA’s mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, the position of MMC for Community Services and By-Law Enforcement.
According to the ANC, ActionSA declined the offer because it was allegedly being pressured by the EFF, which had threatened to remove ActionSA’s Tshwane mayor, Nasiphi Moya.
However, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont dismissed these claims. He confirmed that the party had indeed refused the ANC’s invitation and denied that the decision was influenced by threats.
The political back-and-forth has added another layer of intrigue to Ekurhuleni’s fragile coalition landscape.
What this means for residents
For ordinary residents, the bigger question is whether service delivery and financial management will suffer amid the infighting.
Ekurhuleni has been governed by shifting alliances for several years, reflecting a broader national trend where no single party commands an outright majority in many metros. Coalition politics has become the norm rather than the exception, often bringing instability alongside negotiation.
The ANC’s assurance that there is no crisis may calm some nerves, but public confidence often hinges on what happens next. Will the executive stabilise quickly, or will further motions and reshuffles keep the metro in political limbo?
On social media, reactions have been mixed. Some residents express frustration at what they see as endless political drama, while others argue that exposing alleged corruption is necessary, regardless of which party is implicated.
One thing is clear. The Ekurhuleni coalition crisis is not just about seat allocations. It is a test of how local coalition governments manage conflict, accountability, and power in a politically divided landscape.
For now, all eyes are on council chambers rather than campaign trails.
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: News24
