government’s heels
Gaye Davis
THE Democratic Party’s decision to reposition itself does not mean the terrier will stop snapping at the heels of government. But instead of just levelling criticism, it will also be offering solutions to problems facing the country, DP leader Tony Leon said this week.
Its first offering – a strategy to deal with crime – will be revealed next week at a combined meeting of the party’s national, provincial and local government caucuses in Durban. Leon has already canvassed the idea with President Nelson Mandela, whom, he said, welcomed the intervention.
“We weren’t sent to Parliament just to vent the outrage of those who elected us, although that’s part of it,” Leon said. “Attacking the African National Congress on crime is like shooting fish in a barrel. You can win the debate, but it doesn’t solve the problem.
“Our crime strategy offers practical ways of dealing with problems like police corruption. It details practical steps that can be implemented now, that are cost- effective.”
The decision to reshape itself as a “constructive opposition” and abandon any notion of fighting the 1999 elections in alliance with other political parties was informed, to a large degree, by inputs from political analysts, businessmen and industrialists at a seminar the party held in August “where we asked people to tell us where we should be positioned”, Leon said. “The overwhelming view was that other political parties as currently constituted are not compatible with our value system … it was felt that we should go it alone for the moment, though there may be breaks and faults in the political landscape in the future.”
The DP would thus not be trading its credibility and independence in order to “sanitise” the National Party by joining forces with it.
NP leader FW De Klerk announced on February 2 this year his intention to forge a new political movement. He beat the same rhetorical drum this week, promising journalists at an end-of-session function a few surprises in 1997, but so far has nothing to show in terms of initiatives he claims will “change the party political pattern in South Africa fundamentally and for the long term”.
Leon believes the NP has failed lamentably in its role as official opposition. But he is not discounting the possibility of co- operation at provincial level, particularly in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and on specific issues. DP provincial structures had been asked to present proposals on alignments.
“We will co-operate provincially and on specific issues provided this does not increase the hegemony of the ANC or constitute an ethnic ganging-up,” Leon said. “We have a responsibility to provide a counterweight to the ANC, but we need to be proactive and offer genuine solutions in our opposition.
“There is no way we are going to compromise on our opposition role, but in itself it’s not going to be enough if we are going to remain relevant.”
Of all the opposition parties in Parliament, the DP – with just seven MPs – is by far the most effective. Its bid to reposition itself as a niche party wielding influence out of all proportion to its size will depend, to a large extent, on it being able to match its performance outside Parliament to that within it.
“There is too much reliance on our parliamentary performance and this must change,” Leon said.