uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s national chief negotiator, Dali Mpofu, has confirmed that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has approached several political parties within the Council of the Left to initiate coalition discussions.
Mpofu was speaking at the Birchwood Hotel during a joint media briefing hosted by the Council of the Left, a grouping comprising several smaller political organisations, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South African Communist Party (SACP), African Congress for Transformation (ACT) and Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO).
He revealed that the parties had already engaged with the DA, arguing that accepting invitations to discuss possible cooperation was in keeping with the spirit of local government.
“The Democratic Alliance wrote a letter to the leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party. They wrote a letter to all, if not most, of us here – all the organisations here, the EFF, Afrika Mayibuye. They even wrote to the SACP,” Mpofu said, breaking into laughter.
“They wrote to us. We have no control over who they write to, and most parties here have already met with them and accepted their invitation. Our secretary-general responded to them last night, and that is really what the spirit of local government is about.”
Despite former DA leader John Steenhuisen’s previous opposition to coalition discussions with the MK Party and the EFF, Mpofu defended the engagements, saying the Council of the Left was willing to speak to any political party prepared to initiate discussions.
However, he stressed that the council’s ideological differences with the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) remained, describing the two parties as representing forces of reaction.
“This is not the time for petty political fights among progressive forces. It is the time to unite around the needs of our people. We call on those within the current national coalition and in the former liberation movement in particular to demand the removal of right-wing reactionary forces from the so-called GNU,” Mpofu said.
The Council of the Left also sought to clarify its relationship with the African National Congress (ANC), emphasising that it was not an anti-ANC formation.
Responding to questions about its position on the governing party, representatives said their concerns were centred on the country’s governance challenges rather than political personalities.
EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said the country’s socioeconomic difficulties required political organisations to prioritise the needs of ordinary people over political differences.
“We are at a stage where our country is totally corrupt, unemployment is high, people are living in pain and poverty, and they are living with diseases. That is why we have no time for petty politics or personalities,” Dlamini said.
Former Free State premier and ACT leader Ace Magashule also expressed confidence in the council’s growing cooperation, suggesting that the grouping could expand significantly ahead of the 2029 national elections.
Mpofu concluded by ruling out the possibility of the Council of the Left joining the ANC, while confirming that the council had extended an invitation for the governing party to engage with the grouping.
