South African opposition parties form coalition to oppose ANC

[jpr9954]

An article about in the UK's The Spectator about Julius Malema of the EFF and "Kill the Boer" fame spurred me to start paying more attention to South African internal politics. That article suggested that the ANC could fall below the 50% level in the next general election forcing them to seek a coalition with Malema and the EFF. The result could end up with the radical Malema as Ramaphosa's deputy.

Reading that article was timely as seven South African opposition parties minus EFF have now signed an agreement to work together to unseat the ANC.

The seven signatory parties to the so-called Multi-Party Charter for South Africa also agreed that they won’t enter into any “working arrangement or co-governing agreements” with the ANC or the populist Economic Freedom Fighters at national or provincial government level following the elections.

South Africa opposition parties join forces in bid to unseat ruling ANC

https://ewn.co.za/2023/08/16/moonsh...al-parties-hope-to-form-coalition-to-oust-anc

Even the US press has noticed this.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bid-unseat-long-ruling-anc-7-south-african-102351558

South Africa Opposition Groups Vow to Unseat Ruling ANC in 2024 Poll

https://www.barrons.com/news/s-afri...n-forces-in-bid-to-unseat-ruling-anc-cfe340d0

Whether the opposition coalition can gather enough votes is the question.

https://www.702.co.za/articles/4818...harter-for-sa-can-secure-more-than-50-of-vote

https://ewn.co.za/2023/08/18/analys...harter-for-sa-can-secure-more-than-50-of-vote

While none of the above directly impacts hunting in South Africa, political unrest and instability would make hunting there a riskier proposition. Unrest impacts farms and lodges, creates the conditions for more crime, and the list goes on. Moreover, given many flights to the rest of southern Africa go through Johannesburg, unrest there could impact places like Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, etc.

 

[JvW]

It's a positive sign, but in order for such a coalition to be able to do anything, 1) the ANC will have to lose (i.e. get less than 50% of the vote in the next election) and not go into a coalition of their own or even "reunite" with Julius & Co to get them over the mark, and 2) be able to stick together and work effectively as a team.

For South Africa's sake I hope something positive comes from this.

 

[IvW]

Rotten to the core — corruption has infested virtually every aspect of the ANC

Given where Jacob Zuma and his mafia cronies have taken us, the onus now is on the ruling party to prove to us that there is a single honest person in the NEC. Today, one of the quickest and surest ways to dodgy wealth in South Africa is to join the ANC.

www.dailymaverick.co.za