PA declares its support for ActionSA for Laingsburg mayoral chain

Detailed summary

The Patriotic Alliance has announced it will back ActionSA’s bid for the mayoral chain in the Laingsburg Local Municipality in Central Karoo, becoming the first party to publicly declare its support for a coalition partner after the 4 November local government elections.

The Patriotic Alliance (PA) has announced it will back ActionSA’s bid for the mayoral chain in the Laingsburg Local Municipality in Central Karoo, becoming the first party to publicly declare its support for a coalition partner after the 4 November local government elections.

The announcement comes as political parties across the country are locked in coalition negotiations to form governments in 139 hung councils. Several parties have spent much of the week in talks as they race to secure agreements before councils have to be constituted.

In a statement on Wednesday, the PA said it would support ActionSA’s mayoral candidate in Laingsburg.

“The people of Laingsburg sent a clear message on 4 November. ActionSA received the most votes on the ward ballot and won two of the town’s five wards. No party won a majority,” said PA spokesperson Steve Motale.

ActionSA secured 26.59% of the vote in Laingsburg, ahead of the DA’s 25.35% and the ANC’s 24.49%. The PA received 7.35% of the vote, making it the municipality’s fifth-largest party.

Although ActionSA has secured an endorsement from the PA, this does not guarantee that the party will lead the municipality.

Should ActionSA gain the backing of additional parties to head the council, it would mark the first municipality under its leadership since the party’s debut in local government elections in 2021.

READ | ActionSA lands another surprise to become biggest party in Laingsburg

The announcement followed a social media post on Wednesday by PA leader Gayton McKenzie, who shared a video of himself with ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and congratulated the party on its election performance.

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