Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, the mayor of Cape Town, has again called for a realignment of politics, saying: ”It is increasingly clear that we need to move beyond the current political alignment of a dominant party and a fragmented opposition.
”The success of our democracy depends on people from all political parties coming together, on the basis of shared values and principles, to create a powerful new force to challenge the ANC [African National Congress] at the polls.”
Writing in her weekly online newsletter, Zille said on Friday that the political space is growing for an appropriate vehicle that places the ideals of the Constitution at its core and is committed to extending opportunity to all South Africans.
”This space is larger than the current support base of any opposition party, and indeed, the total support of all opposition parties added together,” she said. ”Voters increasingly want this, but political formations are still trapped in the past.”
Zille said the realignment would involve forging strategic alliances with other opposition parties on the basis of shared values and principles.
”It involves creating a political home for all South Africans disaffected by the power abuse and decline that ANC rule is bringing to our country. It involves convincing talented people who are currently outside of politics to get involved in the project.
”Finally, it involves drawing into the fold those disillusioned ANC members who once believed that their party stood for a non-racial democracy based on the values of our Constitution.”
Zille said she looked at the prospect that South Africa might be going down the path once trodden by Zimbabwe, but decided that this country has the institutions and capability to resist the Zimbabwean tendency.
Firstly, having observed the tragedy in Zimbabwe unfold from close quarters, South Africa has an object lesson in the importance of preventing a country slide into tyranny.
”Secondly,” she said, ”we have a vocal and active civil society that will fight for South Africa to stay on the constitutional straight and narrow.
”Thirdly, and I believe most importantly, we will not go the way of Zimbabwe because there is a strong opposition in South Africa to check and balance ANC excesses and offer workable policy alternatives.”
The DA leader admitted that already, people are predicting that any attempt to realign politics would come to nothing. They point to seemingly intractable differences between parties based on ideology and ego. They argue that race will be an insurmountable factor. They say that ANC voters are not ready to shift their allegiance, that they are inevitably bound by race and history.
”If they are right, then democracy cannot succeed in South Africa,” she said. ”This is a conclusion I refuse to accept. I have faith that politicians of principle will, when the time is ripe, put aside any personal differences and short-term expedience for the good of our country.” — I-Net Bridge