By Alec Hogg
It’s a pity so little attention has been paid to DA Leader John Steenhuisen’s re-election speech. More specifically, its focus, the proposed Moonshot Pact. Because having re-read it, this offers a breakthrough prospect for positive political change in South Africa after the 2024 election.
Steenhuisen insisted his Moonshot Pact “must be an initiative actually led by the leaders of all partner parties….strictly a leaders-only initiative…all of the negotiations and discussions must be handled by party leaders. Let us meet soon at a time and place where all historic enmity is left outside the door.”
The wording is instructive. Members of the Rainbow Coalition are already aligned, so the Moonshot Pact’s logical target is the Patriotic Alliance. At BNC#5, hostility between the PA’s Gayton McKenzie and the DA’s Federal chair Helen Zille was laid bare. Steenhuisen and the PA leader, however, speak of their mutual respect.
Last week Rob Hersov pleaded with the DA to do the math. Without McKenzie onside, there’s no chance of a non-ANC victory in 2024. Getting the PA on-side vastly improves the odds. Plus, securing the party today would immediately deliver Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Knysna and multiple Western and Northern Cape municipalities to the Rainbow Coalition.
In a Whatsapped response, McKenzie described the Moonshot Pact as “a watershed, because if successfully executed, it will be spoken about for years to come and used by other countries as an example. We need something new, but to get there will require vision, humility, firmness and fairness. Let’s see if John has what it takes to form part of such a vision.” Hope Springs.
PS: Merriam-Webster dictionary explains: “Politicians who announce a moonshot are understood to intend it as an ambitious venture which is intended to show significant results.” In other words, something big requiring great effort, but very much achievable.
More for you to read:
- It’s Parly v Concourt on reforming how SA MPs get elected – Dr Michael Louis speaks to BizNews on reforming the electoral process – determined to overcome stalling and changing of the system before 2024. Click here.
- Glencore’s next chapter plot twist: the buyer could very well become a seller in a transaction that reshapes global mining industry. Will Glencore go from predator to prey in mining M&A? Click here.
- How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience – top executives at Google, Intel, and Pfizer speak about the risks that their companies have faced and anticipate facing in 2023. Click here.
