Opposition parties aim for ANC fractures

EFF leader Julius Malema

EFF leader Julius Malema

Published Jan 22, 2017

Share

Johannesburg - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) appears to have set its sights on exploiting the divisions and infighting within the ANC to increase its support base ahead of the 2019 national elections.

On Friday, the party kicked off its three-day annual plenary sessions with central, regional and provincial leaders in Kempton Park, which will culminate with its 260 delegates deliberating its vision and game plan on how to sharpen itself as “a formidable machine ready to attack".

EFF deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, said their strategy will include permeating ANC stronghold areas. The red berets will also try to revive some disbanded structures in the Eastern Cape. It expects to do all of this in two years.

The Inkatha Freedom Party, meanwhile, is not bothered by the EFF seeking to make inroads in KwaZulu-Natal and strengthen itself in what is seen as its stronghold.

“KZN has been our base for the past 41 years. This is the main point in which we have remained strong. As we speak our provincial structures are hands-on in terms of mobilisation and renewing of structures and membership,” IFP Member of Parliament Albert Mncwango said.

The IFP was the biggest winner of what was the splintering of the National Freedom Party earlier this year, after the party was disqualified from contesting the local government elections following its blunder of failing to pay the registration fee with the Electoral Commission of SA. The party will be hard pressed to prove it is a formidable force when it holds its conference later this year.

Like the EFF, the IFP appears to have positioned itself to exploiting the divisions within the ANC. But first, the party will need to manage problems within its own ranks.

“Internal squabbles and the jostling for positions will always be there. While people exercise their democratic rights we will ensure it must happen within certain limits so that there are no dentures when it comes to striving for a solid victory in the elections,” he says.

Political analyst Daniel Silke warned that all parties might find two years is too short a time to achieve their missions. “Elections are not about leadership but handling work at grassroots level. It’s about working on their membership, organising, encouraging young people to register,” Silke said.

He pointed out that 2017 presented opposition parties with a head start to leverage on the ANC’s challenges and canvass for membership, as the ANC grapples with problems that seem insurmountable, for now at least.

“The ANC has until this year to sort out its leadership struggles. It is risking everything by electing a new leader it believes would be able to overcome the negativity of the Zuma administration.

“It’s a pity their conference is only in December. They should have begun early. On the other hand, this is the perfect time for opposition parties to use this year to try and organise themselves.”

The issue of time constraints is what United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa acknowledges. He lamented the lateness of opposition parties in creating formidable structures.

“The ANC is already in full swing. ANC branches are preparing for their congress. They will have all their machinery. We are behind already,” he concedes. However he points out the UDM’s target is barely aimed at the ANC but rather the electorate.

“We have told the ANC many times why we attacked them all over. It’s now time to talk to the voters. It is also a time this country reviews the electoral act, electoral registration.”

For all the hype around wresting some key metros from the ANC, Silke said the pressure was equally on the DA to prove what they achieved in the local government election was no fluke. The DA and the EFF also have to ensure their collaboration in some municipality works.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane has described this period as one for the party to build on gains made last year and prove beyond doubt the opposition party is one that delivers. “Opposition parties, in particular the DA, have been given a chance to govern in Tshwane, Joburg and Port Elizabeth. This is another problem for the ANC - how it can win back the support base they have lost.

“But this also means the same opposition parties can’t afford to rest. Anything can change in politics. If the ANC does find a leader that will unite the party and restore some of the damage done, this will undoubtedly allow the party to reboot and make headway,” Silke said.

Professor Somadoda Fikeni is of the view that opposition parties can only succeed if they have their ducks in a row.

“It is opportune for these parties to position themselves at a time where the ANC going through its own internal succession and factional challenges.”

But Fikeni pointed out that while preparation was key, especially with the EFF looking to gain ground in KZN, Malema needs to tread carefully there.

“If Malema tries and leads the charge there, he ought to remember that KZN is a different ball game in the sense that political violence in that region is not a threat but a reality. To infiltrate areas in that province one needs a mature and subtle strategy,” he said.

The Sunday Independent

Related Topics: