Geordin Hill-Lewis meets with Herman Mashaba

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said that he had a frank and productive meeting with DA Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis.

He said that this meeting formed part of ActionSA’s engagements with political parties amidst coalition negotiations.

Michael Beaumont, ActionSA’s National Chairperson, described the meeting as “another productive coalition discussion”.

This meeting is significant because Mashaba has previously offered the DA a deal to form coalition governments in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane.

He said that the Democratic Alliance can run Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, while ActionSA’s Nasiphi Moya will run Tshwane.

However, there is one caveat. It was impossible for him to work with Helen Zille, and he asked the DA to select an alternative mayor for Johannesburg.

“I explained to Geordin that ActionSA would really like to work with the Democratic Alliance,” Mashaba said.

“However, the toxicity between Helen and me has reached a stage where I can’t work in an environment where I feel someone wants to stab me in the back or destroy me.”

“I said that, for the sake of the country, if you in the DA accept it, let Helen and me step back from the negotiations and Johannesburg.”

“We will support you and enable you to take over Johannesburg with your chosen mayor. However, put someone other than Helen in.”

“I don’t think Helen is the only option the DA has. But I can tell you that ActionSA will not even attend a physical meeting with the DA if you aren’t prepared to make that move.”

Zille responded to the request, saying that it was preposterous, as she was the most popular mayoral candidate in Johannesburg.

“Imagine if the DA had received 16% and Herman Mashaba had led the party that got 35%,” she said in a Biznews interview.

“If the DA’s condition was that the person for whom 35% of Johannesburg voted may not be the mayor, it would be absurd. No one would even entertain it.”

“What Herman Mashaba is saying is that his rancour is more important than the voters of Johannesburg, and then he calls us arrogant.”