The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) have welcomed former president FW de Klerk’s decision to leave the New National Party (NNP). De Klerk resigned from the NNP on Friday, saying the party had gone too far in merging with the ruling African National Congress.
The NNP announced a week ago that it had decided to join the ANC. NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said he would become a member of the ANC and encouraged other members of his party to do likewise.
De Klerk on Friday said the NNP had abandoned its right to differ publicly with the ANC.
”This conclusion is best illustrated by the provision in the NNP’s agreement with the ANC that those with double membership will fall under the overarching discipline of the ANC.”
He said the NNP had asked its voters to give it a mandate to co-operate with the ANC in the April election. The former head of state had actively campaigned for the party prior to that election.
Now, that mandate in spite, the NNP has become co-opted by the ANC.
”I am accordingly withdrawing from the NNP. I am not considering joining the ANC and shall decide in due course for what party I shall vote,” said De Klerk.
DA leader Tony Leon said his decision confirmed how unprincipled and unpatriotic and anti-democratic Marthinus van Schalkwyk’s recent moves have been.
”Over the past fifteen years, I have often found myself in profound agreement, and sometimes disagreement, with Mr de Klerk on a variety of issues. However, his decision is an honourable one, and one with which all democrats will agree,” Leon said.
In its reaction, the Freedom Front Plus said De Klerk’s decision showed that numerous NNP members did not agree with Van Schalkwyk’s move and would rather leave the party than merge with the ANC.
”This means that Van Schalkwyk has not only handed over the NNP to the ANC but has managed to tear the party one last time, FF+ leader Pieter Mulder said in his statement.
Mulder noted that it was mostly NNP members with government posts that were in favour of the NNP-ANC merger. Other members were against the move.
”This is a serious reflection on the current NNP leadership’s integrity and idealism,” Mulder added.
Mulder was also curious as to what would become of the NNP’s assets –would its buildings, funds and other material goods simply be handed to the ANC?
”Thousands of ordinary NNP members gathered this money over many years for something they believed in,” Mulder concluded.
The NNP, meanwhile, described De Klerk’s resignation a ”pity”.
”It is a pity that Mr De Klerk does not support the NNP’s decision, but we respect his right to state his personal view on this matter,” NNP secretary general Daryl Swanepoel said in a statement.
”The Federal Council of the NNP had to take its decision in the light of the hard political realities of the day, and is carrying out its leadership responsibilities in this regard,” he added.
Swanepoel added that the NNP was convinced the party’s decision was the right one to serve its voters’ interests.
”Mr De Klerk brought about an important change in direction in South African politics with his speech of 2 February 1990. However, those who had to continue in politics and had to deal with the realities of the political landscape, eventually realised that the new political landscape has changed fundamentally and that the ANC of 2004 is a completely different one from the ANC of 1990.” ‒ Sapa