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CT still hangs by mayoral chain
14/03/2006 17:15 - (SA)
Cape Town - The Independent Democrats may fulfil their pre-election prophecy of being the king-makers in the City of Cape Town on Wednesday, when the first council meeting elects the new mayor.
the Democratic Alliance's Ryan Coetzee said: "It depends in a large part on the ID.
"If there is no resolution, the ID has to decide if it will vote for Nomaindia Mfeketo (the incumbent African National Congress mayor) or not."
Coetzee said negotiations were continuing with all parties in a bid to break the political impasse in the only large city not governed by the ruling party.
Earlier on Tuesday, ID leader Patricia de Lille repeated that they had not signed any agreement with any party.
"Today, at the full council meeting at Theewaterskloof the Independent Democrats supported the DA for position of mayor, while at the George sitting we supported the ANC position of mayor.
In state of political paralysis
"This surely serves to dispel any rumours that the ID has struck a deal with any party," she said.
De Lille said the ID would remain independent and that negotiations were continuing.
Cape Town is in a state of political paralysis less than 24 hours before the mayor is to be elected.
It is not known whether a multiparty coalition, or a combination of opposition parties will govern the metro.
Minor parties, such as the African Christian Democratic Party and the African Muslim Party, have been courted in an attempt by the two main protagonists - the DA and ANC - to get a clear majority in the 210-seat council.
In the recent municipal elections, the DA achieved 42% of the vote, followed by the ANC.
The United Independent Front noted that the two biggest parties have failed to rise above their political differences to form a joint administration.
Yaya Matsaneng, the party's secretary-general, said: "This, the UIF believes, could provide a stable vehicle for the much-needed service delivery in the Cape metro."
Matsaneng said that, as a matter of principle, it would not be involved in a government with either the ANC or the DA which excluded the other party.
Mayoral election going ahead
"The UIF will instead vote in council for a motion that will be of benefit to the community of the Cape unicity."
Matsaneng said Cape Town was one of the few municipalities where race and colour still mattered, and called on the ANC and the DA to heal the rift even "at this seemingly late hour".
"This is the only opportunity they will have to ensure that racism is dead and buried in the Western Cape, once and for all," he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the city confirmed that a council meeting to elect the mayor, executive committee and councillors was going ahead as scheduled.
- SAPA
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