Port Elizabeth – A newly formed political party launched last week, Building A Cohesive Society in South Africa (BACS), is expected to announce its Nelson Mandela Bay mayoral candidate ahead of the local government elections.
The announcement will be made by former Congress of the People (Cope) MP and now interim chairperson of BACS, Lynda Odendaal in Uitenhage on Thursday.
Last month BACS was registered with the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) as an official political party.
Odendaal resigned as Cope MP in July 2009 and joined the African National Congress (ANC) in March 2010. In a previous interview she said she had severed ties with the ANC because the ruling party’s leadership was “putting its interests ahead of those of South Africans”.
Speaking to the African News Agency (ANA), Odendaal said that BACS was not born out of anger, but rather with the aim to serve communities.
Speaking to the drama that unfolded at Parliament on Wednesday during which the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were forcibly ejected from the house ahead of the Presidency budget vote, Odendaal said that South Africans were tired of such “shenanigans”.
“We need leaders with integrity and who conduct themselves appropriately. BACS aims to address issues which concern South African citizens, issues around service delivery and jobs,” said Odendaal.
She added that the party’s growth had been positive and structures were in place within six provinces.
“Communities are coming out in droves and in the near future we will welcome opposition leaders to BACS. We are excited about the support within the Eastern Cape, a provincial structure is already in place,” she said.
She added that in the last month the party had welcomed two well-known EFF members into its fold, and added that other long-standing members from the ANC, Democratic Aliance and COPE would also be welcomed to BACS.
Speaking to the BACS manifesto, she said a 10-point plan was expected to be launched in the Eastern Cape on May 28.
Some items which speak to the party’s manifesto include gender equality, free education and creating jobs.
“There is certainly a need for a party such as BACS. We are looking at unity, economic fairness and ensuring economic development and bringing that change to the Eastern Cape and other provinces that we are going to work in,” she said.
African News Agency