SA voters must reject coalition governments at the polls - Tshepo Mahlangu

A resident casting her ballot at a voting station in Rooihuiskraal, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers

A resident casting her ballot at a voting station in Rooihuiskraal, Centurion. Picture: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers

Published May 29, 2024

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The South African voters have been cautioned against coalition government as they are expected to go to different polling stations across the on Wednesday country to cast their ballots.

Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville and Saulsville Civic Association leader, Tshepo Mahlangu, advised the electorates to think about the type of services they have been subjected to under coalition governments at some municipalities before they make their mark.

A Mooiplaas informal settlement voter leaving the voting station yesterday. People who applied for special vote made their mark over the past two days. Picture: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers

He said coalition governments that were formed after the 2016 and 2021 municipal elections in some municipalities are “toxic” and voters must guard against installing them at both national provincial spheres of government.

Mahlangu on Tuesday appealed to voters to avoid “repeating similar costly mistakes” done in municipal elections.

He urged voters in Tshwane, and other parts of the country, to heed the call by not allowing their votes to give rise to a coalition government through their votes.

“Let us go out in numbers and reclaim our dignity after what the toxic coalition governments did to the residents of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg,” he said.

He said people must use their votes as voices and not be muted by toxic coalition governments in municipalities.

“The City of Tshwane Metro is a good example of a toxic coalition that proved that if we ever give any party that is in Tshwane our votes nationally and provincially our country will be auctioned,” he said.

As far as he was concerned a coalition government was not good for the country because

“Coalition governments in South Africa are not regulated and are unstable”.

“The City of Tshwane coalition proved beyond reasonable doubt that if all those arrogant parties were to be voted into power many South Africans will be homeless and without basic services,” he said.

He singled out the DA and its coalition partners, saying they do not deserve South African votes.

“If voters decide to waste their votes on them, they must not march, picket or protest because they decided to keep bullies who undermine them into power,” he said.

Mahlangu further asked voters to check for track records of political leaders of newly-formed parties before voting in their favour.

“Tshwane residents must go in large numbers to vote out all parties that agreed to deny them basic services and disconnected them. This is the last chance to reclaim South Africa,” he said.

Early this year, Mahlangu was slammed by the city for being “reckless and irresponsible” after he called on residents to defy the payment of rates and services in solidarity with defaulting customers whose prepaid cards were blocked in December last year.

“In his spare time, Mahlangu records voice notes which he shares on social media and hops from one radio station to another to spew tirades at the city administration and advocate for lawlessness,” the city said at the time.

The city also accused Lasca of having actively prevented and harassed city officials from reading meters in areas where they purport to be representing residents.

Pretoria News

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