There seems to be bad blood between City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba and former mayor Parks Tau over how the city is being governed under the DA-led administration.

Yesterday, Tau told Sowetan ahead of the ANC's Integrated Development Plan meeting in Diepkloof, Soweto, that Mashaba was using EFF councillors as private bodyguards to suppress ANC councillors during council meetings.

"There is adequate evidence that he is literally using the EFF as private bodyguards to suppress people from participating robustly in the meetings," Tau said.

"It is quite unfortunate this has led to a situation where the mayor would even say the police must remove people . if they are engaging robustly. ANC members are suppressed in the meetings.

"A fight between the DA and EFF led to the DA staging a walkout of their own council meeting," Tau said.

"I think that to suggest that the tension is attributed to the ANC without taking into account the conduct of the DA and EFF is unfortunate."

Mashaba was not immediately available for comment.