There’s renewed hope for political parties that identify as black or African to unite and form a government with two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The past weekend saw some of the main leftist parties hold crucial events where they vowed to fight the Government of National Unity until it collapses and to confront big capital over alleged refusal to transform the economy for the benefit of the majority.
Former President Jacob Zuma told thousands during the MK Party’s anniversary celebration in that black South Africans had compromised a lot with the “white ruling class” giving nothing in return.
“We must come together. We need to unite so that we can fix our country. Our people have suffered a lot and it is time we liberate them. We need to get the land back,” said Zuma in his anniversary speech.
Zuma who slammed the current ANC leadership accusing it of selling out to capital, is adamant the May 29 elections were rigged to produce a sellout’ DA-ANC government that only serves to benefit global capital.
African Transformation Leader Vuyo Zungula delivered a message of support at the event and called for African unity.
“We are many as Africans but we are led because we are not united.!here in South Africa we have a situation where the oppressed don’t want to come together, where the oppressed do not want to stand together against their oppresser. What we need in South Africa is a two-thirds majority so that we can expropriate land without compensation,” said Zungula who also sent a warm message of support to the EFF which held a third National People’s Assembly.
The EFF third National People’s Assembly was attended and addressed by leaders from among others UDM, BOSA and the United Africans Transformation who all preached unity.
“I want to say upfront that the naysayers have spoken, said their bit, they were not critical of you but critical the struggle but the struggle will continue and I want to congratulate you,”said BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane in his message of support to the EFF.
Maimane whose party is located on the centre right of the South African political spectrum and preaches free market economy and a smaller state delivered a rather radical speech.
“I come on behalf of Build One South Africa but I also come as part of what Fanon refers to as a new generation that must usher in a new freedom in this country. We must come to an appreciation that we may not all agree on ideology but we form streams in this country that are fighting for freedom and significant change. You can’t have two South Africas, a South Africa where some are enjoying true freedom and then another South Africa where so many are suffering, those are material conditions of instability in our country,” Maimane amplifying an earlier warning by Malema that the poor will mount a violent uprising if current inequalities were allowed to continue.
SACP General Secretary who’s party is now planning on contesting elections independently in protest against the GNU said during it’s special congress that South Africans should demand reparations from beneficiaries of apartheid.