The DA has denied there was tension between the party and Mpho Phalatse following her ousting as Joburg mayor over the weekend.
This comes after a tweet by former DA parliamentary leader, Lindiwe Mazibuko sparked a debate on social media about the DA losing black leaders.
On her Twitter page Mazibuko tweeted: “I am glad this angle is finally surfacing in the press. I am really told that Mpho Phalatse is routinely excluded from party negotiations about her own government which are instead mismanaged by the DA leader and federal council chairman from Cape Town.”
Following the controversy on Twitter Phalatse sent a media statement showing a force of unity within the DA,
“I have noted various posts on social media saying that there is a wedge between me and my party the DA; there is no disconnected between myself and DA leadership we are united in our quest to undo Friday’s illegal act and reinstate the Joburg Multi Party Government,” Phalatse said.
Phalatse’s comments were also reinforced by DA MP, Cilliers Brink who said there were no problems between Phalatse and DA national leaders. Cilliers said there was no basis to rumours that Phalatse would leave the DA.
“All of this is an attempt to divert attention from how a coalition has grabbed power in Joburg,” Brink said.
Brink said the DA was shocked at the betrayal by the Patriotic Alliance (PA) in removing Phalatse as mayor of the City of Joburg. He said instead of creating rumours about the DA, questions should be asked about what the PA was promised in the new coalition with the ANC.
“Why are you (not) asking the PA was it paid to sell out to the ANC,” Brink said.
Meanwhile, the DA was planning to take its ousting out of the Joburg metro to court. The party said if it failed in the lower court they would go as far as the Constitutional Court to get back into government.
The Star understands that DA leaders who held key positions in the City of Joburg had already cleaned up their offices and made way for the new administration to take over.
The speaker of council Colleen Makhubele had advised that the power exchange should be smooth and cordial. She recommended that those who held key positions such as MMCs be willing to help the new leaders settle into those posts.