DA announces coalition agreements

DA leader Mmusi Maimane addressed the media in Johannesburg in Rosebank and said the DA engaged with all the opposition parties to ensure any coalition would have the public's interest at heart.

"We felt it would give us an opportunity for us not only just to focus narrowly on the numbers question as to how many do you need, but broadly how do you position an alternative for South Africa that will take South Africa to a prosperous nation," Maimane said.

Maimane said they had also come to a form of agreement with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

"These agreements commit us to a number of things. When we took up the opportunity, we wanted to put up a framework agreement up front. This framework agreement commits the respective parties to a number of things that are key," Maimane said.

The agreement between the DA and the other parties had been set nationally.

Maimane said they entered into negotiations with the EFF, but realised they would not agree on ideological issues.

"There are many positions that are so vastly different between these two parties and that is why democracy provides that both parties must exist," he said.

He, however, welcomed the EFF's offer to vote from the DA.

"It is an offer they made themselves, which means there is no agreement between us and the EFF. There is not coalition government in this instance," he said.

Earlier today, EFF leader Julius Malema referred to a condition they have put to the DA in exchange for their vote in Johannesburg. Maimane confirmed thet the EFF questioned the DA's mayoral candidate, Herman Mashaba.

"We were quite clear. We asked the people of Johannesburg to vote for Herman Mashaba and Herman Mashaba stands as our candidate," Maimane said.

Maimane said Solly Msimanga will be mayor in Tshwane and Athol Trollip will be mayor in Nelson Mandela Bay.