South African opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, have united to challenge the African National Congress’ grip on power. Forming the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa, they aim to secure a majority in the upcoming elections, with a collective vision to unseat the ANC and avoid alliances with them or the Economic Freedom Fighters. This strategic coalition seeks to address the nation’s challenges and bring about multiparty governance.
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South Africa Opposition Groups Vow to Unseat Ruling ANC in 2024 Poll
By Robert Brand
The seven signatory parties to the so-called Multi-Party Charter for South Africa also agreed that they won’t enter into any “working arrangement or co-governing agreements” with the ANC or the populist Economic Freedom Fighters at national or provincial government level following the elections.
“Our mission is to unseat the ANC, keep out the EFF, and usher in a multiparty government following the 2024 national and provincial elections,” the group, which includes the official opposition Democratic Alliance, said in a joint statement following two days of talks.
The parties will contest the elections as individual entities, and representation in a post-election coalition government would be “approximately proportional” to electoral support. The leader of the largest party would not automatically become president, though it would be entitled to the position of leader of government business in Parliament, according to the agreement.
“We have collectively agreed on a shared vision, principles for a new government, and a minimum program of action to address the urgent problems that present an existential risk to our country’s future,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said in emailed comments following the talks. “All of these crises can only be resolved if we remove the ANC from government.”
The ANC has governed Africa’s most industrialized economy since apartheid rule ended in 1994, yet several opinion polls have shown it risks losing its majority — a backlash against a failure to tackle rampant unemployment and poverty and address an energy crisis that’s seen power rationed for up to 12 hours a day.
The ANC won 57.5% support in the last national election in 2019, while the DA got 20.8% and the EFF 10.8%. The main opposition party controls the Western Cape, while the ANC runs the other eight provinces.
The other parties to Thursday’s agreement are the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, the United Independent Movement, the Spectrum National Party and the Independent South African National Civic Organisation.
Read also:
- McKenzie: Opposition parties, incl PA, may be giving ANC a “free pass” of 5 more years
- SRF’s Frans Cronje: SA’s opposition parties blew opportunity; ANC decline arrested now stable above 50%
- Ramaphosa in trouble as opposition parties join in for the kill
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