DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille has dismissed claims that the official opposition had “double-crossed” and betrayed ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba by fielding its own mayoral candidate in Johannesburg despite the push by other opposition parties to have Mashaba put forward as a candidate.
“Herman Mashaba's plan to become Mayor of Johannesburg proposes that he be at the helm of a minority coalition that cannot govern without the EFF. We have been through that movie before, in the difficult years since 2016. We said we would not repeat it. We have never misled him or given a contrary indication. He has NOT been double-crossed,” Zille said.
“It should come as absolutely no surprise that we continue with our stated commitment. Mpho Phalatse is our mayoral candidate and the DA will vote for her,” he said. Zille however insisted that a minority coalition dependent on the EFF was likely to result in the instability that happened when the red berets helped the DA secure Tshwane and Johannesburg while staying outside of the formal coalitions.