The Democratic Alliance (DA) is looking to is looking to clear tension and put its ducks in a row ahead of a council sitting expected tomorrow in Johannesburg. The sitting being the second of its kind this week, will see councillors attempt to elect a new mayor.

The DA in Gauteng is expected to meet with former coalition partners ahead of tomorrow’s council sitting, in a bid to establish whether there is a way forward to “guarantee a stable coalition government in that residents of Johannesburg can rely on for delivery”.

This is according to the party leader in the province, Solly Msimanga.

The political scenery in Johannesburg has been one under threat with uncertainty within both (the DA-led and ANC-led) coalitions, which has led to split views and uncertainty regarding who the new mayor of the city will be.

The former mayor of the city, Al Jama-ah’s Thapelo Amad resigned abruptly last week, a day ahead of an expected motion of no confidence against him.

With the Council having been expected to vote for the new mayor this past Tuesday, this did not happen as a result of various caucus breaks and a decision by the Speaker of Council, Colleen Makhubele, to adjourn the sitting.

Meanwhile, the DA ahead of the sitting, was facing criticism from coalition parties for its decision to put forward Dr Mpho Phalatse as the mayoral candidate, without consulting other parties.

As a result, AcionSA alongside other coalition members put forward Funzi Ngobeni as their preferred candidate.

“The DA in Gauteng welcomes the reopening of discussions between ourselves and former members of the Johannesburg Multi-Party Coalition in a further attempt to provide a real alternative to the chaos and corruption of the ANC-EFF doomsday gang”- Solly Msimanga

It is not yet clear who exactly will be invited to this discussion, but one understands that the Patriotic Alliance, though a former coalition party, will not be invited.