Johannesburg - Five political parties have agreed to form a coalition in a bid to stop the ANC from getting a two-thirds majority in next year’s general elections.
The parties are Cope, Freedom Front Plus, IFP, African Christian Democratic Party and United Democratic Movement.
The alliance has been confirmed by Cope spokesman Johann Abrie, FF+ chairman Pieter Groenewald and ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe. They say they have agreed on some 20 points around policy matters.
And while these parties say other opposition parties are free to join the coalition, they have made it clear that Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters and ex-convicts Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance are not welcome.
Details of the agreements are expected to be revealed when the coalition is formally announced during a joint media briefing in Joburg on Monday.
“(Cope’s) national congress has already endorsed the joint memorandum of understanding. Our members have already voted for this (coalition),” said Abrie.
Groenewald was more forthright about the coalition’s mission.
“We are saying, as opposition parties, that if we want to stop the ANC, one single opposition party is not enough,” he said, adding that the parties would contest the elections separately.
“Each of the political parties will still have its own campaign, values and principles. But voters will be going to the polls with the idea of a coalition in mind.”
Asked if other opposition parties had expressed interest to join, Groenewald said: “We do have a clause to say if any parties want to join, they would be welcome. But they have to comply with certain rules. If Julius Malema’s EFF wants to join, we won’t allow that.”
The Star