DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille says the DA’s best bet in this election is the Multi-Party Charter, but if the MPC does not get over 51%, then the DA would have to look at other options to prevent a “Doomsday” coalition of the ANC, EFF and MK.
Asked about a possible coalition with the ANC, she said the DA hoped it would not come down to this, but if there were no other feasible options to keeping out the ANC-EFF-MK coalition, this might have to be considered.
The option eventually chosen by the DA would be the “least bad” in the circumstances created by the election outcome. We have no doubt that the worst possible outcome would be an ANC-EFF-MK coalition, she said.
Zille was speaking to Sunday World Engage ahead of the much-awaited elections.
DA will not win outright
According to her, it is a reality that the DA will not win outright on the national ballot, pinning its hope to march to the Union Buildings on the multi-party charter.
However, she did not rule out the possibility of going to bed with the governing ANC if the multi-party charter fails to dislodge Africa’s oldest liberation movement from power.
She made the stance despite the fact that previous coalitions with the ANC have not worked.
“Obviously, the best-case scenario for the DA is to win a majority, but we’re not going to do that; we are not stupid, and we don’t live in castles in the sky; we accept reality,” said Zille.
“What we are very committed to doing is keeping out an ANC, MK and EFF coalition. We are totally determined to keep that out.”
The reason for rejecting MKP and EFF, she said, was because of the politics of the leaders of both parties, Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema.
Zuma’s stance against constitutional democracy, as well as Malema’s politics about a political party controlling the state, are problematic, according to Zille.
Having a government where Zuma and Malema have a big say would be a calamity.
Corruption will continue if ANC remains in power
Said Zille: “Look, Jacob Zuma has already said that he’s going to take the power of the judges, and he’s going to allow traditional leaders to have all the power.
“Meaning we’ll stop living in the constitution of democracy. Now, when we stop living in the constitution of democracy, everyone who believes in the rule of law properly applies it; that’s our law, and it effectively holds our constitution.
“When that happens, there’s no foundation to hold South Africa together anymore.
“The EFF believes in the supreme leader Julius Malema controlling the party, the party controlling the state, and the state controlling the economy and society; that’s a totalitarian system. You know what happens in totalitarian regimes?”
As for the ANC, she said, should the party remain in power, corruption would continue unabated and stifle economic growth.
According to Zille, the DA’s best bet now is the multi-party charter, which involves other parties such as ActionSA and the IFP.
However, if the multi-party charter grouping fails to garner enough votes to govern and going to bed with the ANC is the only option available, the DA would gladly take it.
“I know most of us have been very unhappy during any form of coalition with the ANC, so I’m really hoping that choice will never come up.”
Red berets showed DA flames
About the multi-party charter, which was formed based on uniting the opposition, Zille said Rise Mzansi activated its constitutional right not to be part of it despite similarities in their policies with the DA.
On why EFF was not invited to the multi-party while they were in opposition, Zille said the red berets showed them flames in previous coalitions at the local government level.
Even that idea was squarely Mmusi Maimane’s.
“I opposed that 100%, and that was the start of the unravelling of my relationship with Mmusi because I thought it was a bad move and I argued strongly against it, but I lost obviously because we are a democratic organisation; if you lose, you lose. But it was a disaster.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: CORRECTION AND APOLOGY
This article’s headline and first paragraphs were edited on May 28 to correctly reflect what Zille had said. Sunday World apologises for any harm caused.
Who writes these fake news. Why is it that only an black owned company writes about The DA