DA could govern all three metros in Gauteng: Maimane

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has warned that his party is in a good position to govern all the three metros of Gauteng.

Speaking at a press briefing in Tshwane‚ Maimane said all indicators in Tshwane‚ Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg showed that the support of the African National Congress was on a serious decline while the democrats were on an upward trend.

“We await results from Johannesburg but all indicators from our side show that we have shown great growth and also that the ANC has declined to a point that prospectively now they will get about 45% of the votes in Johannesburg…We will look to form some form of coalition government so that we can govern for the people of Johannesburg‚” Maimane said.

“In Tshwane the DA has grown from 30.6% in 2006 to approximately 43%...As I said‚ here in Tshwane‚ we will be the biggest party above any other party…The conversation in this metro is that we can form a coalition government so that we can govern for the people‚” he added.

Maimane said the party had given the thumbs up to Ghaleb Cachalia to start making moves for a coalition government.

“As part of the negotiations that are taking place‚ if we have an opportunity to govern in Ekurhuleni‚ we will certainly set that government in place.”

At about 11am with 99% of the votes counted‚ the ANC led with 48.62% in Ekurhuleni followed by the DA with 34.2% and the EFF with 11.23%.

Maimane said excluding metros‚ the DA won 19 municipalities with an outright majority in Gauteng‚ Eastern Cape and Western Cape. The party was also in a position to form coalition governments in councils in the Northern Cape‚ KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.