‘How do you celebrate uJuju sitting on your chest?’ — Van Damme weighs in on DA metro wins

Former DA MP Phumzile Van Damme has weighed in about the party governing with the EFF.

Van Damme took to social media this week to express her opinion about the two parties governing together in Gauteng’s metros.

The DA leads minority coalition governments after the EFF caused a political stir by throwing its weight behind DA candidates Mpho Phalatse as mayor in Johannesburg and Tania Campbell in Ekurhuleni.

This is despite the DA previously saying it would not be part of any coalition arrangement with the EFF.

Weighing in on the matter, Van Damme said the EFF governs with parties “forcibly”.

“You’re telling me Julius is doing what in these council elections? ‘We won’t govern with the EFF.’ The EFF governs with you ngenkani (forcibly),” she said.

She suggested governance between the EFF and the DA were “pyrrhic victories”.

“How do you celebrate uJuju sitting on your chest and needing him to pass everything in council? Give some, take some. That’s the nature of coalitions. You’re gonna learn. That’s why coalitions must be decided on paper, otherwise bona your life hle (see your life now),” said Van Damme.

“Even in 2016, the EFF was in coalition with nobody. This way he owes parties squat and they will have to beg at his feet to remain in government. Kingmaker with a few seats. Ya, no. Chess. Checkmate.”

Van Damme said the DA now will need the EFF to govern and pass budgets.

“So you say if it means you must be in a coalition with the EFF, no thanks to government. The EFF supports you, you win and you’re in government. You will need the EFF to govern — pass budgets, etc. Do you take up the seat of power or do you resign? You said ‘no’ to the EFF,” she said. 

When asked if she thought the ANC could support the DA with budgets to “collapse the EFF strategy”, Van Damme said she doubts it.

“I don’t see the ANC doing that. There is just too much pettiness and one-upmanship from parties. There is a lot of maturing to be done and accepting no party will get a majority. You have to work together to have a stable coalition government,” she said.

Van Damme wished elected mayors the best and said hung municipalities should put service delivery first.

“In hung municipalities, swallow your pride and put service delivery first. Do no wrong but gain the maturity of knowing that for coalition governments to succeed, collaboration, consensus and knowing when to concede is essential,” she said.