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Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said on Friday the DA mayors have to focus first on strengthening workable coalitions in the country’s vulnerable metros and municipalities, assuring co-governing parties that the DA will foster a productive and mutually respectful environment.

The November 1 local government elections, which were a huge disappointment for the African National Congress, saw the installation of DA mayors in uMngeni, in KwaZulu-Natal; in Ekurhuleni, in Gauteng; and in the Beyers Naude municipality in the Eastern Cape, among others.

He said mayors must draw up a short-term plan for urgent service delivery and obtain a detailed picture of the municipality – from its financial status, debt and income to its infrastructure backlog, service delivery arrears and current projects.

Addressing the media at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg, Steenhuisen said the party was mindful of the enormous challenge that lay ahead for its mayors, particularly in the hung metros and municipalities where the party was going to have to quickly establish good working relationships with its new co-governing parties.

“I also want to assure our co-governing parties that we will do all we can to foster a productive and mutually respectful environment. We owe it to the millions of residents in these cities and towns, and to every voter who made it possible to remove the ANC there, to prove that multi-party democracy works for them,” he said.

He stated that given the country’s enormous challenges, the party simply could not afford to indulge a government that “lives in the past and clings to its fading history”. That will not solve the country’s problems, he added.

He pointed out that the DA’s talks with other parties that have not signed coalition agreements were still ongoing.

“We are reaching out to these parties as we try to establish majority coalitions in these hung councils. This will be critical if we want to create stable governments that are able to best serve residents,” he said.

Steenhuisen pointed out that this year’s local government election had been a watershed moment in the country’s history as a democracy. .

He said the days of operating in political silos were over, and added that the sooner the party identified its allies, the better off everyone would be.

“You will find these allies all around you. They might sit in the council chamber under the banner of a different party, but many of them want to see the same improvements to people’s lives as you do. We have to find ways to still remain firm and true to our principles, while building and maintaining bridges with council colleagues from other parties. Nowhere is this more important than in the minority governments - and particularly the Gauteng metros - where we are going to have to write a whole new chapter on selfless and cooperative public service,” he said particularly to the DA mayors present at the briefing.

He said mayors would also find allies outside of politics, and noted that cooperation with them was no less important.

“Reach out to NGOs, to civil society, to churches and to educators. Pay attention to groups and individuals who approach you with suggestions - be open to ideas,” Steenhuisen urged his mayors.

Government has urged South Africans to remain vigilant and to exercise all Covid-19 precautions while scientists investigate the newly identified B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant.

South Africa is again on the UK’s flight ban list amid the news of the new variant which has also been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.

On Sunday President Cyril Ramaphosa will convene the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) amid scientists working to determine the spread of the new variant and whether current vaccines are effective against it.

The NCCC determines the way forward during the pandemic, based on science and recommendations from the economic and social sectors.

Government is urging all those who have not vaccinated to do so to make sure that they protect themselves against Covid-19.

“Alongside vaccination, the wearing of face masks, frequent washing or sanitation of hands, keeping a social distance and the avoidance of gatherings remain a proven, effective means of stopping or slowing the spread of coronavirus infection," the Presidency says.

Government says it is working with social partners to strike a balance between protecting and saving lives, and enabling people to earn a living and making it possible for the broader economy to recover and grow.

In the 1970s, Jaki Seroke criss-crossed South Africa as an underground courier between Pan Africanist Congress exiles and those on the home front. Arrested at a roadblock near Koster in 1987, he was held and tortured before being sentenced to 12 years on Robben Island. Released only to be detained again, Seroke finally emerged as a delegate at CODESA, where he helped to shape a democratic South Africa.

In his compelling memoir, Seroke shares the joys and the sorrows of his life, starting with his childhood in Alex, where he is born as ‘a poor mother’s son’ and his politicisation in ‘the year of fire and ash’, 1976. He recalls the political battles among the various Africanist groupings, his incarceration on the Island and his later work at Skotaville Press, as publisher and poet. After 1994, having decided that parliamentary politics were not for him, he joined the corporate sector and committed to a new kind of struggle – that of economic transformation in ‘our land’.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaki Seroke was born in Alexandra township in 1960. He was part of the South African Students Movement. He became editorial director at Skotaville Publishers. Seroke was jailed in Robben Island and was released with 43 other political prisoners on 27 April 1991. He has a BA in literature and English. He lives in Ekurhuleni.

Zwelethu: Our Land is published by Tafelberg, an imprint of NB Publishers

Just days after the African National Congress (ANC) lost administrative control of the failing Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality to a coalition led by MAP16 Civic Movement, the party could see itself governing the municipality again by default.

News24 has been reliably told that at least five failing Free State municipalities, including Maluti-a-Phofung, will soon be added to the list of municipalities under provincial care in the province.

A letter – allegedly from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela – apparently revealed that a decision had been taken to place the Tokologo, Matjhabeng, Maluti-a-Phofung, Mafube and Kopanong municipalities under administration. Under section 139 of the Constitution, the provincial government will have to introduce and closely monitor financial recovery plans for these distressed municipalities.

Amid concerns by the newly elected Map16 Civic Movement coalition government that the move was merely a way for the ANC to win back power through the back door, sources in Ntombela's office told News24 the letter was sent before the recent municipal elections.

Ntombela's media liaison officer, Sello Pietersen, told News24 on Thursday morning the finance minister had raised concerns about municipalities in the province.

However, Pietersen refused to confirm whether the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality was among them.

"You may remember that the municipal councils have just been constituted. Some [are] only a day old. In the spirit of cooperative governance, we, as the provincial government, will have to ventilate issues of service delivery with these new administrations and, as such, we are not in the position to comment on whether Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality will or will not be placed under administration," said Pietersen.

"Until such time as discussions have been concluded with these new administrations, we will not be speaking on the matter. But it is common knowledge that the minister has recently spoken out over municipalities who are failing to do their duties, which includes service delivery, and cautioned that aid be [provided] to them."

He said the discussion with the new administrations, including failing municipalities that were to be placed under administration, will take place next week. Decisions will be made after input is received from those elected to lead these municipalities.

M.J. Sekete, MAP16 Civic Movement's head of communications, told News24 they will "consider all these as a fightback strategy as the ANC lost".

He said before his party had found out that the municipality would be placed under administration, Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mxolisi Dukwana had sent a section 12 notice to the municipal manager on 17 November 2021. Sekete said the MEC had wanted to downgrade Maluti-a-Phofung from a category B municipality. He said he came to know of the plan a day after their coalition was elected.

"This move basically takes away the status of having the executive mayor. He (Dukwana) was aware that the ANC will lose, as his delegation to have a coalition (sic) with MAP16 never succeeded.

"The inaugural council meeting was only... on 23 November 2021, and the ANC lost. Today, we wake up to the news that Enoch Godongwana wrote a letter to the Free State premier, [and] intends to put Maluti-a-Phofung under administration. This is a fightback strategy. Nothing else," said Sekete.

The newly elected council speaker Paratlane Motloung said he was not aware that any letter or notice to have the municipality placed under administration had been served.

He, however, confirmed that a section 12 notice had been served on the municipality.

"Yes, they sent the notice addressed to the executive mayor, although it arrived before we assumed office. The letter is dated 17 November 2021, and we were only elected on 23 November 2021. The notice indicates the intention to make changes to the type of municipality – from ma...

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele announced on Thursday the approval of the extension of the National State of Disaster to December 15.

Last month it was extended to November 15.

The National State of Disaster was first declared by government on March 15, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Gungubele explained that these measures continue to assist in the country’s fight to stop the spread of Covid-19, especially as the country is in the midst of a sharp increase in infections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has said South Africa will need to meet certain requirements before the country’s state of disaster regulations can be lifted.

Gungubele stated that Cabinet was pleased that 260 000 people vaccinated during the second Vooma Vaccination Weekend which was held countrywide from November 12 until 14.

“We must remember that the virus has not been eradicated and vaccination protects us from serious illness, hospitalisation or death. Vaccination is free to all people living in South Africa, and anyone aged 12 years and older is encouraged to vaccinate. Let us vaccinate to ensure a safe and joyful festive season with our families and friends,” he said.

XENOPHOBIA

Meanwhile, Cabinet has noted rising xenophobic sentiments and stereotypes in some parts of the country against foreign nationals.

Gungubele said the onslaught of Covid-19 has affected all people in the country and the negative sentiments being perpetuated by a handful of people do not reflect the true state of cordial relations between foreigners living and working within the country’s communities and among its citizens.

Cabinet called on communities to be vigilant and avoid being coerced into hating other fellow human beings.

It further called on everyone to act responsibly and within the bounds of the law, by reporting any act of lawlessness such as intimidation and public violence to law-enforcement agencies.

While most of the cases of a new Covid-19 variant have been detected in Gauteng, Health Minister Joe Phaahla and scientists believe it may also be present in other provinces.

Phaahla and Professors Tulio de Oliveira and Richard Lascelles confirmed the detection of variant B.1.1.529 during an "urgent" briefing on Thursday afternoon.

De Oliveira - a bioinformatician and the director of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) - said the new variant had a high number of mutations which were "concerning for predicted immune evasion and transmissibility".

He added that it had also been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong.

The professor said there were early signs from diagnostic laboratories that the new variant had rapidly increased in Gauteng, and may be present in other provinces.

"We can make some predictions about the impact of mutations in this variant, but its full significance uncertain, and the vaccines remain the critical tool to protect us from severe diseases."

De Oliveira said the new variant had "surprised" them.

"It has many, many more mutations. We can see that the variant is potentially spreading very fast. We do expect to start seeing pressure in the healthcare system in the next few days and weeks."

He urged the public to avoid super-spreader events.

"We can see that variant potentially spreading very fast," said De Oliveira. He added that pressure on the healthcare system was expected to increase within the next few days and weeks.

Dr Richard Lessells, an infectious disease expert at KRISP, said it was concerning that the variant might be circulating in other provinces.

There is a lot we don't understand about this variant and what it means, he said.

Phaahla said that the spike in Covid-19 infections was initially thought to be due to the Delta variant, but the emergence of the new variant "reinforces the fact that this invisible enemy we are dealing with is very unpredictable".

He encouraged South Africans to practice the tried and tested methods of prevention, including avoiding crowds, physical distancing, and wearing face masks.

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says the Democratic Alliance (DA) will have to humble itself if it hopes to secure coalition agreements in municipalities where it clinched council positions but remains a minority government.

The DA has celebrated the historic election of its candidates in council positions in Gauteng's big metros, but there remains uncertainty about the stability of these minority governments.

The party was handed council positions in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni by ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

Although it received support from ActionSA and the EFF, the blue house does not have any coalition deal with the red berets and Mashaba's party.

It is likely to face an uphill battle to pass any legislation in the councils and may have no choice but to turn to the opposition.

According to Mashaba, the DA's predicament is within its control if it chooses to humble itself and respect other political parties.

He said the EFF and ActionSA had masterminded the plan to install DA candidates and added that the future of the municipalities was with the DA.

He remains concerned about the DA's opposition to a coalition block ahead of major council sittings but says he is open to negotiation.

Intentions

But he insisted that he had no motivation to see the DA fail.

"The DA needs to understand this is not a gift. Why should they fail? Why would we want the DA to fail? They are going to have huge numbers, so why collapse such an arrangement? What is actually needed is for the DA to humble themselves and understand the complexity of coalitions," Mashaba said.

He added, "If they come to us, they must be prepared to humble themselves but if they do not want to, they can go somewhere else."

The DA made it clear that it did not want a coalition arrangement with the EFF, but Mashaba said his party's negotiations depend on EFF support.

"If they want to talk to ActionSA, they must make sure the EFF is part of that arrangement and our meetings are going to be recorded because I do not really trust them. They have let us down on many occasions."

Negotiations

Both Mashaba and the EFF have supported insourcing as a policy to rid municipalities of expensive tenders.

Mashaba remains resolute in his stance and says the DA should prepare to face demands on insourcing.

"We voted for you, and as a matter of urgency, they must start the matter of insourcing. There is no way that we as ActionSA are going to sit back and allow ANC cadres to exploit our people who work as security guards and cleaners earning R3 000," he said.

These are the demands Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams looks set to face as he runs a minority government for a second term.

Williams said he had no plans to run a minority government in Tshwane and pushed for coalition negotiations to continue.

"No negotiations are continuing and have not been finalised. There must be signed coalition agreements, and we will continue to pursue them," he said.

Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini's perjury case has been postponed to Thursday.

Dlamini appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday where she pleaded not guilty to the charge.

African National Congress Women's League members gathered outside the court to support her.

The case stems from her testimony during an inquiry the Constitutional Court instituted into her role in the 2017 South African Social Security Agency grants crisis, which Judge Bernard Ngoepe chaired.

The inquiry was held to determine whether Dlamini should be held personally liable for the costs of the debacle.

The judge found that Dlamini was evasive when questions were put to her during the inquiry.

However, in her plea on Wednesday, Dlamini denied that she lied intentionally and that she gave false evidence during the inquiry.

Prosecutor Jacob Serepo asked for the matter to be postponed so that he could consult witnesses.

Serepo said he understood that this was prejudicial to Dlamini, but added that "justice hurried is justice buried".

However, Dlamini's advocate, Tshepiso Phahlane, said he was opposed to the delay.

Phahlane said the matter had been postponed previously so that the State could prepare.

"We came here ready for trial."

South Africa has asked Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer to delay delivery of Covid-19 vaccines because it now has too much stock, health ministry officials said, as vaccine hesitancy slows the inoculation campaign.

About 35% of South Africans are fully vaccinated, higher than in most other African nations, but half the government's year-end target. It has averaged 106 000 doses a day in the past 15 days in a nation of 60-million people.

Earlier this year the programme was slowed by insufficient doses. Now deliveries have been delayed due to oversupply, making the country an outlier in the continent where most are still starved of vaccines.

Nicholas Crisp, deputy director-general of the Health Department, told Reuters that South Africa had 16.8-million doses in stock and said deliveries had been deferred.

"We have 158 days' stock in the country at current use," a spokesperson for the Health Ministry said. "We have deferred some deliveries."

They did not say when deliveries would now take place.

Stavros Nicolaou, chief executive of Aspen Pharmacare, which is packaging 25-million doses a month of J&J vaccines in South Africa, said most of the vaccines bound for South Africa would now go to the rest of the continent.

Nicolaou, who is also chairperson of public health at business lobby Business for South Africa (B4SA), said deliveries would likely be deferred until the first quarter of next year.

Vaccines packaged at Aspen's plant are part of the African Union's agreement to buy 220-million doses from J&J.

The AU and J&J did not respond to an email seeking comment.

A Pfizer spokesperson said: "We remain adaptable to individual country's vaccine requirements whilst continuing to meet our quarterly commitments as per the South Africa supply agreement."

South Africa's government has been seeking to boost the rate of daily administered doses.

"There is a fair amount of apathy and hesitancy," said Shabir Madhi, who led the clinical study for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in South Africa.

To ramp up vaccinations, the government has launched pop-up vaccination centres and sought help from community leaders. It has also opened inoculations to children aged 12 to 17.

Licking his wounds after being denied a second term as Ekurhuleni mayor, the African National Congress's (ANC's) Mzwandile Masina says he is disappointed but not bitter at the Democratic Alliance (DA) grabbing crucial Ekurhuleni council positions, including that of mayoral.

Masina could not garner enough votes to return as mayor of Ekurhuleni at the metro's council sitting in Germiston on Monday.

The former mayor will now serve as an ordinary councillor.

He received 105 votes, losing out to DA councillor Tania Campbell, who was elected mayor with 116 votes. She is the first woman to lead the Ekurhuleni metro.

The ANC saw its support in Ekurhuleni and many other municipalities decline further following the municipal elections on 1 November.

The party did not get a majority in the aerotropolis in the 2016 elections but was able to keep control of the metro through the support of smaller political parties.

At Monday's sitting, the ANC's battle to keep control of the municipality's top positions became even more challenging as opposition political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters and ActionSA, voted for DA candidates for speaker, mayor and chief whip of the council.

Masina said he was not aggrieved by the electoral outcome and called the election of DA candidates an example of democracy in action.

He said, "No, this is politics. How can I be aggrieved? I was not born with a vote in my mouth. What happened today (Monday) is democracy in action, and I am still intact."

"The ANC has 86 seats in the council, so I am not shocked. I think we did our best as leadership, and I think there is more work that needs to be done. We must go back to the drawing board and improve on these results," Masina added.

The former mayor said the ANC would take up the opposition benches to hold the DA to account.

"She (Campbell) has been there for the past five years, and I have no doubt she will do whatever... her party instructs her to do. We will do our bit, as the opposition, as the ANC, to make sure that we hold that government to account. The important thing is the stability of government," Masina said.

Referring to the ANC's broader electoral performance, the ANC regional chairperson in Ekurhuleni said the party would reflect on the outcome. He said the aim was not to remain in the opposition benches for long.

"The ANC will have a moment to reflect on what has necessitated the outcome that we have experienced. We are not going to be... in the opposition benches [permanently]. We are going to work very hard to make sure that we can serve our people. We are not bitter, and we are just going to be doing our work. We still have a huge responsibility," he said.

Masina said there would be a peaceful transition of government in Ekurhuleni.

The former mayor said, "I have spoken to the DA leader Tania Campbell, and I have assured her of a peaceful transition so that we can get to the business of the council."

Despite the DA's control of the mayoral seat, the Ekurhuleni council remains hung, with no outright winner and no coalition government agreement in place.