With the UDM willing to form a coalition with the DA, Mmusi Maimane’s party would need just another two seats for an outright majority in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro.<\/p>\n
DA mayoral candidate Athol Trollip said on Saturday that talks were taking place at national level to form coalitions in Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and, potentially, in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
He would not disclose any details, other than to repeat UDM leader Bantu Holomisa\u2019s and UDM regional chairperson Mongameli Bobani\u2019s statements that they would form a coalition with the DA.<\/p>\n
If the UDM joined the DA in Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA would need only another two seats for a majority.<\/p>\n
Port Elizabeth was one of the most contested metros in the 2016 local government elections. The DA wrested control from the ANC by securing 46.7% of the vote and 57 seats in the 120-seat council.<\/p>\n
The ANC secured 40.9%, gaining 50 seats, a major drop from its 62-seat majority in 2011.<\/p>\n
The DA needed four additional seats to have a 61-member council majority, and the ANC 11.<\/p>\n
The EFF was the third-largest party, securing 5.1% of the vote, and 6 seats on council. The UDM secured 1.9% of the vote, earning them 2 seats.<\/p>\n
The remaining five seats went to Cope, the ACDP, the African Independent Conference, the United Front of the Eastern Cape, and the newly-formed Patriotic Alliance.<\/p>\n
The ANC would need the EFF and the five remaining parties to reach the 61-seat majority. The EFF had however stated it would not form a coalition with the ANC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t work with the ANC, but we won\u2019t close our ears when people want to talk to us,\u201d EFF leader Julius Malema said in Johannesburg earlier this week.<\/p>\n
Trollip believed that no self-respecting political party leader who contested elections against the ANC would then go into a coalition with the ruling party.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be disastrous. That would be going against the wishes of the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
SA political parties talk coalitions after game changing elections<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n DA clinches Nelson Mandela Metro \u2013 final count<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n