By Nadene Parsons
While the Democratic Alliance is enjoying welcoming new councillors around the country as the deadline for the window period for floor-crossing draws to an end, KwaZulu-Natal has been quiet.
But provincial party leader Michael Ellis said it was not over yet. "It's just that many haven't yet declared their hand."
Councillors have until midnight on Wednesday to cross to another party and keep their seats. In the case of ward councillors, there's also the option to go independent.
Ellis felt some people preferred to wait until the last minute.
"It's early days yet and things could change for us."
NNP provincial leader Renier Schoeman, however, is not convinced many from his party would move to the DA.
"Given our history (with the DA), it's a case of once bitten twice shy for NNP members."
Of the NNP's 10 eThekwini councillors, Schoeman said, six supported the ANC, four of whom have already joined that party and the other two have said they have no problems working closer with the ANC. Cyril George has crossed to the ACDP, Estie Bawden has moved to the IFP, Frankie Adams has resigned, but has not yet decided what to do next, and one other, who Schoeman would not name, "is still considering" options.
According to the NNP's Federal Council, which announced the party's consolidation with the ANC and proposed that members cross to the ruling party, members who join the ANC would have dual membership. But they "will fall under the overarching discipline of the ANC".
Party spokesperson Carol Johnson said: "From a legal and technical perspective, the NNP has to stay in existence until at least September next year." Dual membership was merely a transitional arrangement. By then all the floor-crossing would be completed and the NNP would be no more.
Schoeman said he planned to join the ANC, as did his deputy, Brian Edwards. "I'm fully in favour of the Federal Council's decision and its proposal that every member should make up their own minds. Clearly, we said from the beginning that our future lies with the ANC."
For political analyst Lubna Nadvi, the premiership change to the ANC camp has meant the role of the DA and the IFP (in KZN) as the official opposition has come under much scrutiny. "The next five years will prove critical to the DA", and "even the IFP has to work extra hard to keep its support base going", Nadvi said.
"The DA, while attempting to change its demographic profile, is still regarded in many respects as a party representing minority interests. It seems to be drawing people from the smaller parties like the PAC and NNP in the floor-crossing exercise, but virtually no-one from the ANC.
"Given that the ANC has a strong national, provincial and local government profile, it is only to be expected that career politicians will gravitate towards the ANC, in anticipation of better prospects," Nadvi said.
Meanwhile, the fledgling Independent Democrats has two new councillors in the eThekwini municipality. ID secretary-general Avril Harding said Kobashini Stone and Bella Jacobs had moved across from the IFP. The party is "in negotiations with at least three others".
Harding has dubbed this a great achievement. "There's potential for growth for the ID in KZN."