Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
24 May 2024 | 16:26 p.m. SAST
2-minute read

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) are the last parties standing in the Multi Party Charter, and their combined support falls short of the 50% that was hoped for when the pact was formed.

Commonly referred to as the Moonshot Pact, the charter was formed with the objective of providing an alternative to the ruling ANC. However, it is a dismal failure, says Dr Imraan Buccus of the Auwal Socioeconomic Research Institute.

The main reason for its downfall is the DA’s belief that it offers an alternative based on its accomplishments in the Western Cape.

“I think it’s in large part the DA’s arrogant belief that because it governs in a particular way in the Western Cape, that automatically positions the DA as some kind of alternative for everyone,” Dr Buccus opines.

The party’s achievements in the Western Cape does not automatically translate into nationwide appeal, Dr Buccus says. He adds that the DA is oblivious to South Africa’s political context, including the country’s historical allegiances, identity politics, ethnicity, regional disparities, and has failed to consider the Muslim electorate’s response to the genocide in Palestine.

Dr Buccus says that the party has not considered the effect of the MK party’s emergence on the Multi-party Charter.

It is misplaced for parties to make assumptions about how they think individuals should vote, Dr Buccus says, adding that “people vote in the context of their own material interests.”

With regards to the recent announcement of the DA’s reviewed economic policy, Dr Buccus notes that while the party prioritises decreased import tariffs,  the ANC and other parties prioritise the localisation of goods, including supporting local suppliers and increasing goods produced in South Africa.

In addition, Dr Buccus believes that the overarching objective of the new economic policy to reduce the role of the state in the South African economy can negatively affect the intervention of the state in a country whose marginalised rely heavily on social welfare.

“The kind of alternative that the DA offers is always market-friendly. It pleases the West. It pleases the corporate sector. And in South Africa, that kind of alternative is no alternative for the masses of people,” Dr Buccus says.

The failure of the Multi-party Charter provides an opportunity for the DA to reflect and recalibrate its strategies. Addressing race dynamics more thoughtfully, considering the socioeconomic realities of the electorate, and engaging with local and global issues more sensitively are crucial for the DA’s future success, Dr Buccus says.

The influence of funding also plays a role, particularly regarding international issues like the Israel’s war on Gaza. However, Dr Buccus says, local issues such as race and economic policies appear to be less affected by donor pressure and more by the DA’s own ideological stance.

Listen to the ASRI Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.