EFF pushing for Joburg position

The party wants the transport portfolio as a condition for its continued support of the ANC

- Lunga Mzangwe & Mandisa Nyathi

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is looking to secure the transport portfolio in the City of Johannesburg, a position it believes will give it a platform to drive service delivery and strengthen its campaign ahead of next year's local government elections.

The demand, which has the potential to destabilise the coalition government running the city, was communicated to the ANC last week by EFF secretary general Marshall Dlamini's office.

The party wants Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero to give the position left vacant by the resignation of the Patriotic Alliance's (PA) Kenny Kunene to the Red Berets, who would in turn give its community safety portfolio to the PA. The PA has signalled its vehement opposition to this proposed swap, while the EFF has threatened to withdraw its support for the ANC in the city if it does not get its way.

Sources within the EFF's central command team — its highest decision making body — said this had been discussed by party structures as part of an election strategy to gain momentum ahead of local government elections.

The department oversees critical issues such as the management of roads, licensing centres and public transport networks, including regulation of the troublesome minibus taxi industry and the City of Johannesburg's problematic Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system.

"We believe that this is a good plan to gain our ground in the council and help our people in Johannesburg. We have a better chance in restoring the streets of Johannesburg ahead of the G20, something that the Patriotic Alliance has failed to do," a member of the central command team told the Mail & Guardian.

South Africa is the current president of the G20 and Johannesburg is hosting a series of G20-related meetings this year, culminating in the annual summit of heads of state set for November. This has placed pressure on the city to fix its decaying infrastructure, including roads which are riddled with potholes.