Cape Town – Six political parties, including the Congress of the People (Cope), African Independent Congress (AIC), National Freedom Party (NFP), Independent Citizens Movement (ICM), African People’s Convention (APC), and the African Amalgamated Restorative Movement (AARM), are in the process of forming a coalition pact for the upcoming general elections next year.
According to EWN, they are currently meeting for a two-day strategy workshop at the Sandton Sun Hotel to finalise the terms of their partnership.
At least 13 political parties have divided themselves into two blocs for the elections, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) leading one bloc with seven parties.
This new coalition pact, led by Cope, aims to unite six smaller opposition parties, and it has received interest from three additional political parties, the report said.
Recent polling data suggests that the African National Congress (ANC) may fall below 50%, potentially leading to the first-ever national coalition government in post-apartheid South Africa.
According to ABC News, since Nelson Mandela was elected president in the historic all-race elections of 1994 that marked the end of apartheid’s white minority rule, the ANC has emerged victorious in every national election in South Africa.
Subsequently, the ANC has faced allegations of not adequately providing essential services to a significant portion of the South African population. The party has frequently been embroiled in corruption scandals, notably during President Jacob Zuma’s administration from 2009 to 2018, which spanned almost a decade. Furthermore, the ANC is widely held responsible for a nationwide electricity crisis, resulting in daily rolling blackouts in Africa’s most advanced economy.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
