The African National Congress (ANC) in Rustenburg Local Municipality has stirred controversy with its abrupt decision to end its coalition with the Botho Community Movement and form a new partnership with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), further complicating the region’s fragile political landscape. The move, which follows the ANC’s loss of an outright majority in the 2016 local government elections, has drawn sharp criticism from former allies and opposition parties, while the EFF expresses hope for improved service delivery.
The ANC has governed Rustenburg under coalition arrangements since 2016, having failed to regain a majority in the 2021 municipal elections. The sudden shift in coalition partners has angered the Botho Community Movement, which accused the ANC of disregarding formal agreements. Speaking to SABC News, Botho Community Movement’s Ofentse Kombe said, “In our working with the ANC, the ANC approached us formally. When we entered into the coalition, it was again a formal signed agreement. But when they then take a decision or a view that we are no longer needed within this arrangement, they do not come back and call us back to the table and make a formal decision.”
The ANC, however, defended its decision, citing the failure of previous coalition partners to stabilize the municipality. Louis Diremelo, ANC North West Provincial Secretary, told SABC, “We decided to work with the EFF as a coalition partner in many of our municipalities, not only Rustenburg, but in most of our municipalities. It has not been an easy decision, of course. It has been a decision that we have to research it, we have to consult with national officials about it. It’s a decision based on principles that the EFF were trying to work with them to stabilize most of our municipalities. After we’ve realized that we’re working with other political parties, but their interest of the communities was not the same.”
The EFF, for its part, expressed optimism about the new coalition, emphasizing its commitment to service delivery. Justice Dabampe, EFF North West Deputy Secretary, told SABC, “We have decided to work with them because if you can check, the ANC has been very arrogant. It has not been coming to the party to say, no, come, let’s work together to ensure that we give the people of Rustenburg services. But it has not been coming to the party. It’s of late that they’ve seen that it is only the EFF which is progressive. It’s only the EFF which speaks delivery, saves delivery.”
However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus in the Rustenburg council has warned that the ANC-EFF coalition could exacerbate the municipality’s challenges. DA Councillor Luan Synders described the partnership as “a recipe for disaster,” stating, “I believe that this coalition will bring no stability to the administration of Rustenburg and also no stability to service delivery in Rustenburg. What Rustenburg desperately needs is a stable coalition, a stable leadership, a visionary leadership that can actually take Rustenburg to where it’s supposed to be. We have seen the decay of Rustenburg roads infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, as well as water infrastructure over the past few years, and I don’t see that improving in the next few months to come, even before the next local government elections.”
Residents of Rustenburg continue to grapple with poor road infrastructure and deteriorating electrical and water systems, issues that opposition leaders have vowed to address by holding the new coalition government accountable. As the ANC and EFF navigate their partnership, the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services remains under intense scrutiny.