Gauteng ANC\u00a0 leaders plan to meet EFF leader Julius Malema in a bid to retain leadership in Joburg and Tshwane, South Africa’s top metros.<\/p>\n
This is according to the Sunday Times, which reported that such a move would go against the wishes of president Jacob Zuma.<\/p>\n
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told the Sunday Times that he had instructed provincial secretaries to “do everything they can” to retain municipalities.<\/p>\n
Read: This is how coalitions work in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Zuma’s backers told the Sunday Times that the president had expressed his disapproval of holding talks with the EFF.<\/p>\n However, Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile confirmed that Malema had agreed to a meeting “this weekend” with the ANC.<\/p>\n “We are going to meet the leader of the EFF … there is no problem at all, he has agreed to meet,” Mashatile said.<\/p>\n ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa dismissed Zuma’s opposition to the talks as “malicious gossip”.<\/p>\n The “ANC can negotiate with any party and does not need permission from the president, he said. “It’s the ANC that takes the decision.”<\/p>\n Read the full article in the 7 August, 2016 edition of the Sunday Times<\/em><\/p>\n DA and EFF in secret coalition talks: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n ANC is a party in crisis after Mbeki visit \u2013 Malema<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Gauteng ANC in talks over coalitions \u2013 Mashatile<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on the elections<\/h3>\n