Johannesburg - Five smaller parties have agreed to work with the DA in some of the 27 hung councils countrywide, confirming that a DA-led coalition will govern Nelson Mandela Bay metro.
A beaming Mmusi Maimane led a press conference to announce that the DA had spoken to a number of political parties and agreed on coalitions with Cope, the ACDP, FF Plus, UDM and the IFP.
Leaders from the various parties signed the coalition agreement at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel in Sandton on Wednesday afternoon.
Maimane said the parties had agreed to principles of clean governance and transparent procurement processes.
"This is an agreement that seeks to put people first, ahead of anyone else," the DA leader said.
Maimane again gave the assurance that there would be no purging of municipal staff.
He said the DA had tried to negotiate with the EFF, but "it's quite clear that we will never agree on some ideological issues".
He said, however, that the parties could talk about issues that required changes to the Constitution, further along the line.
DA mayoral candidate Athol Trollip is set to make an announcement on Nelson Mandela Bay metro coalitions at 15:30.
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