The DA’s virtual petition to fight off Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink’s removal continued to gain momentum on Friday with more than 29 800 signatures from people backing the campaign.
This was despite the ANC having temporarily withdrawn its motion of no confidence against Brink, albeit with a warning to bring it back within a month.
Brink’s backers, through the online petition, vowed to oppose any attempts to break up the incumbent governing coalition and bring the EFF into power.
His imminent removal became possible after the ActionSA caucus announced on Thursday a decision to break away from the multiparty coalition government in Tshwane.
The party has expressed its intention to work together with the ANC to unseat Brink and his cabinet.
On the other hand, the DA petition mobilised people to reject utterances of ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba, aiming "to break the stable coalition in Tshwane".
The petition read in part: “I do not want Tshwane to end up like Johannesburg, a city broken by the EFF. I do not want the same coalition of chaos to be brought to Tshwane by ActionSA. I stand with Executive Mayor Cilliers Brink, a builder of our City.”
Others have vocalised their support behind Brink in video clips posted on social media.
Pretoria businessman and resident, Dewald Jordaan, said: “The last couple of years have been different compared to what it was when I started out. The positive change that our local government has brought to the City of Tshwane for its people is really tremendous. I think for the first time we have the right people in the right positions making the right decisions.”
He applauded Brink for being at the helm of a great team in charge of Tshwane, saying he came in when "things were really doom and gloom", but he managed "to take almost the impossible and stabilise to a place where we can see change today”.
Community activist in ward 61, Vera Mathebula, said: “I have heard via the grapevine that a certain coalition partner has had a sudden change of heart and wants to send the executive mayor packing.
“Is this the same executive mayor that wants to take Tshwane to its former glory? Is this the same executive mayor that is giving us value for money? Is it the same executive mayor who has been seen with foot on the ground trying to deliver services? If that is him, you do not have my support. I am backing Cilliers Brink all the way.”
MMC for Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town, JP Smith, said: “Tshwane before 2016 had a problem with poor governance that has left deep problems and legacies that will take a long time to reverse and can only be reserved by stable, uninterrupted administration. Motions of no confidence prevent that from happening.”
On Friday, Brink expressed gratitude to those who supported him through well wishes and prayers.
He said council Speaker, Mncedi Ndzwanana, confirmed in writing that the motion of no confidence against him would not serve during the ordinary sitting that had been scheduled for Friday.
This was after Brink and the DA launched a court bid with a view to declare a move to oust him unconstitutional and unlawful.
“Despite the political instability and uncertainty; political parties (that are) saying this or that I am committed with my team to the city and continue to make progress to build the capital city that works for all its people and that we can all be proud of,” he said.
Pretoria News