Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
27 February 2024 | 18:43 CAT

Multi-Party Charter 2024 – Image/ ActionSA

Cracks are starting to appear in the Multi-Party Charter, the latest being the recent fight between the DA and ActionSA in eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal.

The two parties are key members of the Multi-Party Charter, a coalition of several opposition parties determined to unseat the ANC from power.

ActionSA’s provincial chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwakele Mncwango, accused the DA of being arrogant after the DA tabled a motion to dissolve the eThekwini metro council but refused to ask the EFF to support it.

According to Mncwango, the DA never intended for the motion to succeed. Hence, the party chose not to engage with other political parties in opposition to support the dissolution of the eThekwini council. Mncwango said it was evident that the DA had introduced the motion to challenge the IFP, which had previously tabled a motion of no confidence against eThekwini executive mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.

He also accused the DA of veering off course and losing direction. Mncwango escalated the issue to his national office, which reportedly agreed with ActionSA’s position. However, News24 reported that the DA provincial chairperson, Dean Macpherson, told City Press on Friday that the party would never allow ActionSA to force it to work with the EFF.

The EFF has been a bone of contention between the DA and ActionSA for some time now. The DA is adamant in its stance of not working with the EFF, while ActionSA does not see a problem working with the EFF. This is not the first time that ActionSA butted heads with the DA over issues on a provincial level. It also happens frequently in Gauteng that the two parties need help finding a middle ground.

The Multi-Party Charter started as a concept known as the Moonshot Pact but has since been rebranded as the “Multi-Party Charter 2024”. Several opposition parties in South Africa have come together to pledge to share power as a coalition after the 2024 elections if they cumulatively beat the ANC in the polls.

The parties initially signed up in August 2023 were the Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front+, ActionSA, Spectrum National Party, United Independent Movement and Independent South African National Civic Organisation. Since then, the African Christian Democratic Party has also joined the Charter.

The relevant political parties are campaigning individually ahead of the 2024 elections, and voters will vote for one party of choice as normal, as the parties are separate political entities.

Listen to the interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and ActionSA’s provincial chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Zwakele Mncwango.