ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has offered to step aside from the race for Johannesburg mayor in a bid to break the political deadlock between his party and the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng's metropolitan municipalities. In a letter to DA federal leader Geordin Hill-Lewis dated November 7, Mashaba proposed that both he and former Cape Town mayor Helen Zille withdraw as mayoral candidates. This would allow the DA to nominate a replacement who could be supported by ActionSA.
Under Mashaba's proposal, ActionSA would take the deputy mayor position in Johannesburg, while the remaining terms of a possible coalition agreement would be negotiated between the parties. The move is seen as an attempt to find a solution to the impasse in the country's economic hub. Mashaba's letter was seen by Sowetan's sister publication TimesLive.
The proposal comes after weeks of negotiations between ActionSA and the DA failed to yield a result. The two parties have been locked in talks to form a coalition in several metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng. The DA and ActionSA have significant support in Johannesburg, but have been unable to agree on a mayoral candidate.
In a separate development, alleged underworld figure Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala has made claims that former deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya threatened his wife before he was set to testify before a parliamentary committee. Matlala's claims are contained in a now-collapsed plea agreement, which was read out at the Madlanga commission.
Matlala alleges that Sibiya's threats were intended to intimidate him into not implicating the former deputy police commissioner or disclosing information about him to the committee. The claims have raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the potential for undue influence.
In other news, over 1,100 workers at Festive Chicken, a division of Astral Foods, have been on strike for nearly two weeks. The workers are demanding better salaries, adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), and permanent positions. They are seeking a salary increase to R13,500 a month, as many currently earn between R4,500 and R5,000.
The strike has highlighted concerns about working conditions and labor practices in the poultry industry. Festive Chicken is a major producer of chicken products, with brands including Goldi and County Fair. The company has not commented on the strike or the workers' demands.
Key points
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba offers to step aside as Johannesburg mayoral candidate
- Alleged underworld figure Vusimusi "Cat" Matlala claims former deputy police commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya threatened his wife
- Over 1,100 Festive Chicken workers on strike demanding better salaries and working conditions
