/ 31 March 2010

Newsmaker: Helen Zille

The Democratic Alliance and the Independent Democrats have taken the first tentative steps towards a possible coalition at national level.

The Democratic Alliance and the Independent Democrats recently took the first tentative steps towards a possible coalition at national level. The Mail & Guardian spoke to DA leader Helen Zille about the possibility of the parties joining forces.

1. There have been reports that the Democratic Alliance is considering entering into a coalition with the Independent Democrats and other smaller parties. Where is that decision at right now?
We are already in coalition with the ID and other smaller parties in many local governments in the Western Cape.

2. There were earlier reports that you had struck a deal with the ID before the 2009 elections. Was this called off?
No. I made Patricia de Lille an alliance proposal before the 2009 election in terms of which she would become premier. The ID turned it down.

3. What value do you think the move would add to the South African political landscape?
It would make sense to have a strong two-party system in South Africa, differentiated by opposing political philosophies and not by race. That would help in consolidating democracy.

4. What does the ID in particular offer that is attractive to the DA and its constituency?
I have had regular meetings with Patricia de Lille since we formed the coalition in Cape Town in 2007. We share the same values. We both believe that the role of the state is to defend and protect rights, expand opportunity and do those things for people that they cannot be expected to do for themselves. We do not believe the role of a ruling party is to manipulate favourable outcomes for a group of political insiders. That is why we both reject tenderpreneurship. We both oppose corruption, and support open, efficient government. This is a good platform on which to take the process of political realignment further. This will just be one step in the process, which will continue for the next three or four years.

5. Is there not a danger that if this merger does in fact take place, that we could see a two-party system of government in the future?
Danger? Would you prefer a single-party dominant system which we now have? We cannot be a democracy unless the ruling party can be replaced in government through the ballot box. This cannot happen with an opposition fractured into small components that are not necessarily divided on issues of principle. It makes sense to bring together those, who on the basis of values and principles, should be working together. Current party political divisions are obsolete. There are many people in a variety of parties who agree on core principles, and they should be brought together.

6. There have been reports of other parties being invited into the coalition. Has the DA made a decision on Cope, considering the number of people who voted for them in the last election?
Whether or not to join existing coalitions is Cope’s decision. We invited the independents associated with Cope to join the coalition in the City of Cape Town, and in the Western Cape government. They declined. I think matters will become clearer after their elective conference.

7. The DA came to being thanks to a merger of various political groupings in the 1990s. Do you feel this is an effective way of growing your support base?
Mergers are one way to grow the alternative and build a new majority in South Africa, but they are not the only way. The DA, as it exists at present, is the product of many mergers, as well as periods of consolidation and organic growth, from the PP to the PRP to the PFP to the DP and then to the DA. Between mergers the party showed strong growth at the ballot box.

8. Would your constituency be open to a merger with other parties?
It depends on the context and the terms.

9. Who would lead this coalition, should it come into being?
In a coalition, each party retains its own leader.

10. What would you say to suggestions that any potential merger is aimed at bringing in voters from across the racial divide?
The DA already has more black support than most [if not all] of the smaller opposition parties. We recognise the need to continually build and develop the brand so that our political philosophy increasingly resonates with all South Africans.