The DA’s moonshot pact, which brings certain opposition parties under one roof in an offensive to dethrone the governing ANC from the Union Buildings, has transformed into what is called the “Multiparty Charter for South Africa”.
This emerged during the opposition’s Multiparty convention at the Emperor’s Palace, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday, which is meant to conclude on Thursday.
This is where the DA, ActionSA, IFP, FF Plus, United Independent Movement, Spectrum National Party, and iSANCO, met to share ideas on how to “unseat the ANC and keep the EFF out”. The mission is identical to that stated by the DA emerging out of its last national congress, wherein it formed the moonshot pact.
ANC and EFF, the parties stated on Wednesday, were still not welcomed in the new charter, which has agreed on a set of principles, vision, and values.
However, the organisations agreed to extend an olive branch for other parties to join and be judged objectively. This part of the agreement is seen as a victory for ActionSA boss Herman Mashaba, who has been lobbying for the inclusion of the Patriotic Alliance, much to the annoyance of the DA, which was left buttered by PA in Gauteng metro cities where Gayton McKenzie’s party dumped them to marry the ANC and EFF alliance.
According to the independent facilitator of the convention, Professor William Gumede, who has publicly stated his opposition to the ANC and EFF, the proposed offensive is meant to take power away from political parties and give it to the people.
“Deliberations have been robust yet constructive, and we are pleased to announce that we have agreed that the name of our pre-election agreement will be the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa,” said Gumede on Wednesday evening.
“We have agreed that our shared vision for South Africa will be: A new government to build a just, inclusive, and prosperous South Africa based on opportunity, freedom, and security for all its citizens.
“We have furthermore resolved to extend invitations to all political parties in South Africa that subscribe to our vision, priorities of government, shared governing principles, and the pre-requisite to unseat the ANC and keep the EFF out.”
It remains to be seen how the ANC and EFF will respond to the latest attack. Their own relationship in Gauteng municipality has been a political hot potato for some time now, especially within the ANC.
The wrestling over this within the ANC ranks came after the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences decided to formulate a political framework, the content of which has been a bone of contention and received different interpretations.
The ANC Veterans League resolved at its recent national congress that the Luthuli House must play as far away as possible from the red berets.
The view was also championed by party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who does not mince his words in calling for a divorce with the EFF in Gauteng municipalities.
ANC leaders in Gauteng have, however, pushed back, arguing their marriage to EFF started before the NEC talked about coalition frameworks.
The ANCYL has also joined the fray arguing the DA would be a better “tactical ally” than the EFF.
This has raised suspicions that the DA is playing both sides by coercing opposition parties on one front in public while courting the ANC secretly.
As such, parties such as FF Plus have been lobbying the DA to commit to signing a contract that it will never work with the ANC after next year’s watershed moment, a request the DA has apparently rejected outright.
The Multiparty Convention continues on Thursday, with sparks expected to fly high on the form and shape the “Multiparty Charter for SA” must take. This is amid suspicion that some parties may leave others at the door of the election.
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