Linda Ensor and Amy Musgrave
9 October 2008
Cape Town — Former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota's suggestion yesterday that a new political movement might be launched was a further sign of disintegration within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and the loosening of its monolithic hold over SA's political life, opposition parties said yesterday.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) said they would initiate talks with any new political formation.
Lekota told a media briefing that a consultative forum would be convened to discuss the future of SA. He called for a collective effort "to defend our movement and our democracy".
DA leader Helen Zille welcomed Lekota's move, which she said could result in the disintegration of the ANC and the realignment of politics in SA.
The DA would seek an opportunity to discuss the way forward with Lekota and his colleagues as soon as possible, she said.
Zille said the DA was prepared to work with any party that shared its vision and principles and was committed to building a new political vehicle to tackle SA's challenges .
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said the tussle within the ANC had reached breaking point, but this should not be allowed to distract from the real issues such as poverty, unemployment, crime and corruption.
Inkatha Freedom Party national spokesman Musa Zondi described Lekota's announcement as an "anti-climax" for those who had expected a radical assessment of the crisis inside the ANC and an indication of a way forward.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said Lekota's timing was "perfect" because if the ANC split the new venture would win the sympathy of ANC national executive committee members booted out last year . Once Lekota had a mandate, the UDM would meet him to discuss co-operation, Holomisa said.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said it was good for democracy and for SA that the ANC majority would be reduced and a more natural distribution of political parties established.
If a new political party was established, it would bring new tension into the ANC and "for the first time since 1994" the ANC would lose support.
The "Zuma-ANC" may also get less than 66% of the votes, which would mean it would not be able to change the constitution on its own. "In the foreseeable future, the ANC should also attract less than 50% of the votes," he said.
Treatment Action Campaign chairman Zackie Achmat said that as an ANC member he was critical of Lekota's "hypocrisy" and "sudden discovery of honesty, moral integrity and constitutionalism" when he and others had kept "dead quiet" when the country was racked by uncertainty over AIDS, Zimbabwe and other critical issues.
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