As coalition negotiations continue in hung metros, it has emerged that the DA has agreed to sacrifice some of its mayoral candidates in a bid to strike a deal with the EFF.

The Citizen has learnt that the DA is on the verge of giving in to the demands the EFF has put on the table.

In terms of the deal, the DA would control Tshwane while the EFF would take control of Johannesburg, or vice versa. If the deal is brokered between the two parties, it would be interesting to see how the two parties, who differ politically, will work together.

The EFF favours land expropriation without compensation, while the DA wants constitutionaly protected property rights.

A senior DA leader in Gauteng told The Citizen today that the DA has buckled to pressure to agree with the EFF on land expropriation without compensation and mayoral positions.

However, DA federal chairperson James Selfe denied that the party had given in to the EFF’s demands.

“It is not true that we have buckled to anything,” Selfe said. “No demands have yet been made.”

Selfe said the EFF was not the only party with which the DA was in discussion.

“We are talking to all parties, with the exception of the ANC,” he said.

The DA is talking to other political parties including the United Democratic Movement and the Congress of the People.

The opposition party negotiating team is comprised of party bigwigs including Selfe, party leader Mmusi Maimane, Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate Athol Trollip, City of Cape Town mayoral candidate Patricia de Lille, Free State DA leader Patricia Komane and MP Thomas Walters.

The EFF is represented by party bigwigs including Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and Dali Mpofu.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, the ANC will hold its national executive committee meeting at the St George Hotel in Irene, Pretoria, from tomorrow until Sunday. The ANC’s dismal performance in the local government elections is likely to top the agenda at the meeting.

-ngwakom@citizen.co.za