Cape Town – Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has urged opposition parties to put aside petty differences and come together to unseat the ANC.
He said this as he revealed in an address broadcast live on the party’s social media platforms on Saturday that five political party leaders had thus far agreed to work towards a “moonshot pact” with his party.
The pact is the official opposition party’s attempt to prevent what Steenhuisen has termed a “doomsday coalition” between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after the 2024 elections.
The DA proposed the pact at its federal congress in Midrad two weeks ago.
The following are the five leaders who agreed to attend a Moonshot Pact National Convention:
- Velenkosini Hlabisa from the IFP;
- Herman Mashaba from ActionSA
- Ahmed Shaik Imam from the National Freedom Party
- Pieter Groenewald from the Freedom Front Plus
- Neil de Beer from the United Independent Movement
Steenhuisen said that invitations to join the pact were sent to 15 organisations and potential partners.
“The only opposition leaders who were not invited are those who are aligned to the ANC and EFF,” Steenhuisen said.
He said that the United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa, African Christian Democratic Party (ACD)P President, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe and Xiluva leader, Bongani Baloyi had rejected the DA’s call for a moonshot pact.
The following six party leaders have, thus far, agreed to attend the National Convention for the Moonshot Pact:
Velenkosini Hlabisa — IFP
Herman Mashaba — ActionSA
Ahmed Shaik Imam — NFP
Pieter Groenewald — VF Plus
Neil de Beer — UIM
John Steenhuisen — DA pic.twitter.com/U6uWZ1pH80— Multi-Party Coalition Advocacy Group (@MultiCoalition) April 15, 2023
Steenhuisen said the DA will host its National Convention for the moonshot pact this winter.
Leaders will negotiate the contents of the pact, he said.
“Various party leaders have made constructive suggestions to ensure the success of any negotiations.
“These leaders share the dream of a strong pact to deliver the country from ANC/EFF doomsday,” Steenhuisen said.
“It is for the leaders to get around the table and set out the vision for the pact.”
He added: “The ANC thrives on the divisions within our society and we all know that the only way we will ever be able to rebuild our country is if South Africans stand united in our diversity on our way towards achieving a common goal.
“Yet how can we, as political leaders, expect the people to do something that we ourselves are not yet prepared to do and that’s why I implore you: let us lead by example, let’s cast aside our petty differences and stand together as one pact. United in our diversity and work towards that shared goal of unseating the ANC,” he said.
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Picture: Twitter/ @Our_DA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
