Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon and his Inkatha Freedom Party counterpart Mangosuthu Buthelezi renewed their call on Thursday to other political parties to join their ”coalition for change”.
Addressing the first-ever joint DA and IFP caucus meeting in Parliament, Leon said the two parties had ”come together in a classic horn formation, advancing on two separate flanks” towards achieving the common goal of positive change in South Africa.
Both parties recognised there had been great achievements in the past 10 years and South Africa had progressed on many fronts.
”There are, however, critical national areas where the pursuit of wrong policies, or a lack of political will and an absence of bold leadership, have held our beloved country back,” he said.
”Our coalition — which is open to other parties that are prepared to make the same commitments — will have the political muscle to push for radical policy changes on the issues that matter most to ordinary people. We are determined to address and resolve the crises in HIV/Aids, crime, unemployment and rural poverty.
”Our cooperation today is critical. The ruling party is fighting a bitter political battle against itself, using the Constitution and the laws of this country as cannon fodder.
”The president refuses to step in and exert strong leadership.
”At the same time, millions of ordinary South Africans are yearning for real change. Millions are tired of the ANC’s
unfulfilled promises and ineffective policies. Millions are weary of seeing the benefits of freedom flow to an elite few,” Leon said.
Buthelezi said the joint caucus meeting was a milestone in South African politics.
The IFP and the DA were two distinct parties, sharing many policies, but ”our approach to issues and even our style of
participation in the parliamentary process are different”, he said.
”Our differences are very real and they are very valuable, because they reflect differences within our society and mirror the diversity of South Africa. Therefore, it is important that we learn from one another’s differences.”
There was no doubt that democracy was far from having taken full root in South African soil, he said.
”The very essence of democracy is about enabling the democratic dynamics by virtue of which today’s minority becomes the majority of the future.”
If elections were a foregone conclusion, there was no democracy.
It was essential to provide South Africa with the hope of a democratic alternative.
”Otherwise, we are bound to see further steps being taken in the consolidation of what is already an embryonic one-party state.”
While the IFP and the DA were two distinct political parties serving different purposes in the history of South Africa and the current political landscape, they had to work together as partners and friends undertaking the same mission.
”We need to consolidate our coalition of like-minded and willing partners, which work together to rescue South Africa from its many problems,” Buthelezi said. — Sapa