Two political minnows announced on Monday their coming together to contest the general elections, united in their ”fight against moral decay and godless government”.
The New Labour Party (NLP) under the leadership of Peter Marais and the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) under the joint custodianship of Rudi du Plooy, Joe Hanekom and Reverend Theunis Botha, formally announced their cooperation agreement, which was signed on Sunday evening, following months of negotiations.
”The agreement is premised on both party’s views that there is no real recognition of Almighty God in government … Government has shown scant regard for religious values and instead opted for a type of liberalism which is foreign to our people,” read Marais from a joint statement.
The statement said both parties have a ”deep religious basis” and urged believers to join hands across race, ethnic and language barriers, and to promote the idea of religion being the ”inspirational and guiding force” behind politics and the government.
The parties will strengthen each other on a national ticket, but will not oppose each in the provinces where one is stronger than the other. For example, the NLP will only contest nationally the Western Cape and Northern Cape, and the CDP will contest nationally Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Asked how the parties intend to overcome the question of a secular state as is envisaged in the Constitution, the NLP’s Marais said it is a ”predicament” to have to choose between the Bible and the Constitution.
”Secularism has never been accepted by a large section of the South African population,” he said.
Pointing to Minister of Education Kader Asmal as an example of how former political exiles brought secularism to South Africa, Marais said ”secularism and humanism have destroyed the moral fibre of society”.
His views were echoed by the CDP’s Botha, who said there are many issues — such as abortion and the abolition of the death penalty — that the Constitution supports, but which — if contested by a popular referendum — could prove that many South Africans do not agree with them.
”God is being ignored … The Christians are going out and saying we are fed up,” said Du Plooy.
Asked if the resurrection of quasi-Christian nationalism and its echoes of the past could affect the perceptions of the electorate, Botha said it is obvious that politicians will seek to use religion to gain credibility with the people.
”[However] we are not here to use and abuse the Christian faith,” said Botha.
”I believe that everything done for the glory of God, will be to the good of the people,” Botha said.
About the membership of the two parties, Marais said his party, which launched late last year, has 14 000 signed-up members in the Western Cape alone. The CDP, which has its stronghold in Gauteng, is showing ”phenomenal growth” according to Rudi du Plooy.
The CDP, which was formed in 2000, has six councillors serving in Gauteng. — Sapa