As the ANC and the DA disagree publicly about who can or can’t join the Government of National Unity being put together following the recent electoral stalemate, two more parties have indicated a willingness to join the pact.
United Democratic Movement and Rise Mzansi indicated on Friday and Saturday respectfully that they intend participating in the power sharing arrangement dismissed by many as a DA-ANC coalition in disguise.
The newly formed center right party Rise Mzansi campaigned on an anti-corruption often targeting the ANC with its messaging which was consistently concluded with “ we need new leaders” but the party, like other liberal formations were rejected by voters and ended up securing just one seat in the National Assembly and another in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Rise Mzansi said in a statement it leadership discussed the optics carefully and concluded its voters would be best served by the party participating in the GNU.
“ South Africans deserve legislation of a high quality. We also said that proper oversight by elected representatives, and accountability of the Executive branch are also important, especially in light of the devastating experience of state capture and rampant corruption. In making their voices heard through the ballot, South Africans also expressed the need to be represented by new leaders who are capable, caring and ethical leaders, which is the platform on which we conveyed our politics to communities. We believe that GNU presents a unique opportunity for collaboration, and to influence for implementation the issues found in the RISE Mzansi People’s Manifesto,” reads the statement.
The announcement by Rise Mzansi on Saturday morning comes just a day after UDM Leader Bantu Holomisa revealed he had written to the ANC accepting invitation to join the GNU.
Holomisa said in the letter the new government must accommodate the aspirations of all parties that are represented in parliament in order to fulfil the wishes of voters.
“Also, take note of our proposal that a Technical Committee be established after the GNU is in
place to scrutinise all the members’ manifestoes in order to formulate policy. This committee
should also consider the manifestoes of those parties outside the GNU who are in Parliament, as
they have been given a mandate by voters to effect change in South Africa,” said Holomisa also indicating that his party is willing to form part of the new government.
“Is not the ANC that get to invite everybody as Fikile seem to think. He keeps making public statements that this one has joined that one has joined, he must read clause 24 of the document that he signed. There are three founding members ( DA, IFP & ANC),” said DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille in an interview with the SABC.