The Democratic Alliance (DA) will continue to serve residents of Mogale City, west of Johannesburg, despite walking out of a council meeting to pass the budget, the party said on Tuesday.

“The DA will continue to serve the residents of Mogale City regardless of political affiliation and hold the current ANC [African National Congress] executive accountable,” said Cooperative Governance spokesperson Makashule Gana.

The ANC-led council managed to pass the budget with the help of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), after the DA staged a walked-out.

“Much of the budget includes elements of what the DA proposed under our administration and we welcome this move by the ANC. It must be stated by us that the people of Mogale City come first, stability in the council is imperative to service delivery and residents can be assured that any wrongdoing by the ANC will be met with the strongest action from the DA leadership in Mogale City,” said Gana.

He said DA councillors have always been ready to work and to serve, despite the instability caused by the ANC.

“This political push by the ANC in Mogale is not new to the DA and has shown that the ANC will do anything to destabilise councils where it has lost the confidence of the electorate. We will work vigorously towards a better Mogale City for all residents not just those who are connected to the ANC.”

The EFF said in a tweet that its councillors went against resolutions of the EFF.

“EFF has taken note of what has happened at Mogale City Council budget vote. EFF Councillors voted together and for the ANC budget. This is the highest form of defiance of the revolutionary tenants of the Economic Freedom Fighters.”

The EFF was awaiting a formal report upon which it would institute disciplinary proceedings against its councillors.