Multiparty manifesto highlights ‘ills’ of ANC

Published Nov 4, 2013

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Durban - Opposition parties in Parliament have agreed on a list of 20 issues to include in their manifestoes as part of an anti-ANC alliance before next year’s elections.

The DA and the African People’s Convention declined to form part of the agreement.

The parties are planning “a mother of all rallies” to introduce the agreement to their supporters on a date yet to be decided.

They said the document highlighted the ANC’s “corruption” and “abuse of power”.

DA federal chairman Wilmot James said the party had its own manifesto and enough strength to fight the elections on its own.

Among issues raised in the multiparty manifesto is that of “out-of-control and disruptive” unions representing public servants.

It also expressed opposition to cadre deployment.

Part of the manifesto reads: “Uphold the constitutional right of public servants to unionise provided that such unions do not disregard the rights of citizens to obtain essential services.

“Transform the civil service from one which favours political deployees to one that is professional, transformative, accountable, nonpartisan and committed to delivering quality services to the people of South Africa as a whole.”

The main people behind the manifesto were IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Bantu Holomisa and Cope’s Mosiuoa Lekota.

Cope spokesman Johann Obrie said the drafting of the manifesto was complete. Parties involved needed to sign it.

He believed the joint manifesto would help Cope - riven until recently by power struggles between Lekota and expelled co-founder Mbhazima Shilowa - to get its voice across to voters.

“However, the parties would campaign as individuals and independently (of) each other. We are not going to lose our identity as parties.

“But we have common issues we have put together. We are going to highlight (President) Jacob Zuma’s corruption and abuse of state power and taxpayers’ money.

“We are also going to campaign strongly against the secrecy bill. We are going to expose (the) ANC for… (protecting) its members found guilty of corruption,” he said.

Obrie did not rule out the possibility that the multiparty forum might slowly lead to certain opposition parties amalgamating.

IFP senior national council member Ben Skosana said the parties would use the same issues after the elections to oppose the ruling party.

“If we use one voice, we are sending a strong message that the issues we are opposing are much bigger because they affect all parties.

“If one party is raising an issue (individually), it can be easy prey to the ruling party.

“In Kenya, soon after the opposition parties worked together, they won the elections by 62 percent.”

But for these elections, the IFP had decided to participate as a distinct party to avoid confusing its supporters.

UDM secretary-general Bongani Msomi said

he would comment once the document was signed.

The Mercury

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