This past week, a spirited gathering took place in Hammanskraal, where a group of South Africans came together to send a resounding message to their leaders: it is time for black political parties to rise against the perceived encroachment of the Democratic Alliance (DA) within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Organised by Thuto Mashaba, this event encapsulated a deep yearning for solidarity among progressive political forces inspired by the legacies of revered figures like Nelson Mandela, OR Tambo, and Robert Sobukwe.
“We call on community members from various political and civil society organisations to send a loud message to leaders in the country to unite now,” Mashaba emphasised, illustrating the palpable desire for a more cohesive governance structure that prioritises the needs of indigenous people.
This sentiment resonates strongly across the nation, as many continue to dream of a progressive, inclusive political landscape.
The protest took place beside the iconic life-sized statue of Nelson Mandela, a symbol of hope and resilience since its unveiling in June 1999. Sculpted by Phil Minnaar, the statue stands as a testament to the struggles faced by countless heroes in the fight for democracy in South Africa.
For the protesters, it served as the perfect backdrop for their urgent call to action.
Mashaba articulated the statue’s significance, stating it reminds South Africans not only of the injustices of the past but also of the potential for change through unity. The gathering was marked by fears of a resurgence of apartheid-like conditions, heightened by the DA’s significant ministerial presence in the current coalition government.
Sibusiso Dlamini, a 33-year-old participant, echoed these concerns. He argued that in a nation where black citizens form the majority, reliance on the DA should be reconsidered.
“There is no need for the leading party, ANC, to over-depend on the DA,” he expressed fervently, highlighting that black unity could offer the strength required to address systemic inequities.
The discontent within the ANC continues to grow, as internal voices challenge the coalition with the DA. Andile Lungisa, a prominent member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee, openly criticised the arrangement, asserting that it undermines the working class and contradicts the aspirations of the anti-apartheid movement.
“The current arrangement won’t temper or change the ownership and the commanding heights of the country’s economy,” he lamented, shedding light on issues like land ownership and the economic marginalisation of black professionals.
With criticism mounting against the DA, especially regarding recent legislative actions such as the passage of the Bela Bill, speculations about the party’s future role in the GNU abound.
This unfolding narrative has ignited discussions around potential collaboration between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), given the latter’s emphasis on land reform.
Political analyst Professor Dirk Kotze has also weighed in on the DA’s dominance in the GNU, saying many sceptics cannot see a long-term partnership between the ANC and DA. Moreover, ideological critics dispute the notion of a national unity government, because of the EFF and MK’s absence from it.
“The GNU concept is caught in different political realities. President Ramaphosa, the DA, Patriotic Alliance, and Freedom Front Plus are the GNU’s most vocal supporters. Other partners like the IFP, UDM, PAC, and Al Jama-ah are less visible but still very much inside the GNU camp.
“The biggest exception is the ANC which is most divided on the GNU – take for example the ANC’s ministers who are defending the GNU in comparison with the stance of Panyaza Lesufi, who is supporting it vocally but not acting in accordance with it,” Prof Kotze writes in an IOL opinion piece.
Last month and many times since the establishment of the coalition government following the recent elections, SACP general secretary, Solly Mapaila, voiced his concerns over the inclusion of the DA in the GNU at the expense of progressive parties such as the EFF.
“As many of you know, we at the SACP have been critical of coalition arrangements anchored in a collaboration with the beneficiaries of the racist and sexist economic, social and political regimes of colonial and apartheid oppression.
“The problem in the GNU lies in one critical issue: the prioritisation and inclusion, above all else, of the right-wing, neo-liberal, white-led DA in a country whose population is overwhelmingly African and black.
“The DA’s white leadership dominance, historical background, and class underpinnings, including party-political donations, are a reflection and direct continuation of the racist legacy of colonial and apartheid oppression. There is no other better way of stating this truth,” he stated.
The Star