/ 10 July 1997

Now Roelf and Leon may join up

THURSDAY, 8.00AM

ROELF MEYER, who on Monday announced a formal deal with Bantu Holomisa to form a joint party, may be close to making a similar deal with Tony Leon’s Democratic Party.

Leon was quick this week to welcome the proposed new party, and to say that his own discussions with the two men — and also with the Inkatha Freedom Party — had revealed shared views on the realignment of South African politics.

Meyer confirmed that he has been talking to Leon. “The approach now is to look at how we can join forces,” he said. Meyer said the next move in his deal with former ANC leader bantu Holomisa would be to draft policy statements, which would aim in particular at fighting poverty, crime, all forms of tyranny and corruption.