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FORMER Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has announced that a national convention will take place on November 2 to discuss how to defend democracy and the constitution.
The convention will be the platform for the launch of a new party which will challenge the ANC. But what will it stand for?
From Shilowa’s address this morning:
1. It will mirror the ANC’s “broad church” approach, attempting to mobilise the full spectrum of society behind shared values;
2. The party’s values will center on the protection of the constitution, the judiciary and the rule of law;
3. The party will support the direct election of a president who cannot be recalled by a party while in office;
4. The party will support a constituency based system where MPs are directly elected by communities instead of the current system where MPs are decided on by party bosses.
See also:
The ANC’s three critical fault lines
How the ANC’s battles will reshape politics
Zuma’s power is rapidly slipping through his hands
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Awu, Shilowa since when did you dream that we need to elect the president of the country? Yourself as a Gauteng Premier was co-opted by the ANC not South Africans. The fact is we didn’t even like you but with time we got used to your red socks and suits. Why you did dream earlier my MAN!
I like point number four the most, it delivers governance directly into the hands of the electorate. No more jobs for pals and favours for support. Accountability is to the the people who elected the MP.
Seriuosly speaking, since when did you see these issues to be of concern Mr Shilowa, What was you eye opener now? Was it the realisation that it might be a matter of time before the axe falls on your head as well as a Comrade Teebose supporter? Funny how you expect people to join this silly party of silly poeple who do not want nothing but power and wealth ONLY for themselves.
It’s about time you give other a chance to enjoy as well. Fact is whoever is in power would always be corrupt. Personally I never supported you and your party and never believed anything your party stands for, but still I voted you and your party into power, my vote will always go to the ANC, but right now it is time for you to give other a chance to also enjoy the gravy train. NP and AWB has had its time to enjoy, let other as well enjoy.
Bloody hell !!!
And how immensely wrong many of us have been to think that the present ANC top dogs, Zuma, Vavi, etc., represent the best we can hope for the future …
Yes, true democracy has already formidable depth and width in South Africa : if a former top unionist like Shilowa, and remember, he is not exactly a Ramaphosa, can come out so forcefully in favour of COMMON fundamental democratic values, then indeed, we have a most promising bright future …
When the present NEC of the ANC was elected less than a year ago at that typical football hooliganism event in Polokwane, I did not much bother about the humiliation Mbeki got, but was most seriously concerned with the composition of the new NEC : except for perhaps half a dozen persons, it was the worst possible joke one could do to the ANC, not to mention the whole of South Africa …
In this regard, I am afraid, Zapiro’s cartoons fail to express the full human misery and horror of that new NEC, except for the mentioned few persons …
But, lo and behold !, from the ANC itself, not to mention other quarters, democrats like Shilowa emerge !
Yes, even if I have been here for about thirty years by now, I must most urgently relearn what South Africa really is !!!
This is a wonderful new development. Debate is always a good thing. When people want to resort to fighting and killing in the ANC after we’ve attained democracy, then we have problems. I will not vote for the ANC anymore or this new party, since I’ve been dissapointed by the ANC in general. Accountibility, accountability, accountability! We will vote both ANC’s out of power! The people shall govern!
To hell with the new party. History will judge the intentions of these power mongrels. They have fattened themselves and now they soil the very source of their ill-gotten wealth. Good luck with the new party. I shall not be confused by some power-grab imbeciles.
south africa require dynamic interlecuals who will defend the democracy that our forefathers fight for.and this is a high where by decisions have to highly contested in parlamen. previously we never had a strong opposision party but this time i have a feeling that we are going platform whereby deciosions are not going to be imposed to people.ANC TWO THIRD MAJORITY must be reduced so that puclic/oppositions party will have something to say.and we are going to have less politicians in our courts becouse corruption will be reduced.viva democracy/freedom viva.
Yes!! Out with the old combrades and in with the new breed!! We are tired of being misrepresented. The ANCYL leader is a BIG NO NO!! Please save us. Our brains are hungry for a new challenge!! I want to be a volunteer!!! Please please call me anyone with information my no. 082 799 4939 and if you are a Zuma suppoter do not call me and threaten me for I will also die for my NEW PARTY!!!!!!!!!
this is exciting, the once feared ANC has been toned down. now lets go to the elections where the two thirds majority will be history. enough is enough. and for JZ begin to prepare for the dock again coz u thought that scapping the scorpions and recalling mbeki will save you. sorry. its pay back time. the field is open and let sense prevailing in the politics of this wonderful nation
JZ is single-handedly destroying a Party which the Boers failed to do.Kgalema ntate Motlanthe. Get rid of the albatrosses: JZ, Vavi & Nzimande. They can’t stand on their own!
To Shilowa and his team go we will meet each other during election in 2009.The have beeen people like you who once tought of challenging the ANC. Today where are they, Shilowa and your Co
you are going to be like dogs with no teeth like the Sobukwe & Holomisas.Five years down the line you will be like dogs barking to the moon.
Viva ANC, Viva SACP , VivA Cosatu, the Tripetite Alliance live, ANC lead the National Democratic Revolution. Mluleki Goerge Eastern Cape is the home of the ANC, please brother watch it.
I voted ANC for my entire life though I do not hold an ANC card. Somehow what has transpired in the past months left little to be desired. Brutally speaking the current leadership has not sold themselves to me satisfactory. The way they have been handling matters is way too suspicious. What I noticed is they have no sense of or idea how government should be run except all of them loving the media so much and saying different contradicting statements. I somehow understand why Mbeki led this country the way he did because clearly SACP and COSATU would have crapped on his head as they are currently doing. I support the new party fully we need voices who not be afraid of the likes of Phosa, Mantashe and Malema. These guys are ungovernable all of them, there is just no order in the ANC at all. One day Phosa says Lekota is his comrade next day Mantashe says he needs to go. What is going on there and Montlanthe is quiet I have a strong feeling that he will walk away from this ANC come presidential election the JZ gang will make sure he is out.
The saying goes: “Your vote is your secret” – but from now onwards, “My vote is an open secret”.
Direct election of leadership in governance is long overdue.
Baba you got it all wrong,Holomisa was hated by all and take this from someone from his birthplace.We even made a song about his big head so do not even think this party is another UDM. Watch the space!!You know that all the brains of ANC are coming to this side ! which side will you choose?
Tambo, Sisulu, G Mbeki and others must be tossing and turning in their graves regarding what’s happening within the ANC. The people in the ruling party are now serving their personal interests (it’s no longer about serving the community) and I personally don’t think we should give such individuals power.
@ Sinazo.
You on point, people have the tendency of comparing the Convention Movement to the likes of UDM and PAC, a big oversight on the nature, character, caliber, influence and leadership abilities of the people that are forming and joining.
The ANC must further acknowledge the fact that the current electorate in this country are just too clever, especially the group that was born in the post apartheid era – remember, they are now eligible to vote.
The time for progressive dimensions have arrived, the revolutionary movement should move over for progressive thought, sentiments and broer-skap must be buried, we are in a new dispensation now, we are fighting new challenges and that is the advancement of this country. I say AHOY to the new party. There are ways to do things respectfully and with dignity and Polokwane showed that there is no such in the Zumarites camp, whatever they aspire to, they could have done it in a respectfull and dignified manner, burning T-Shirt of the former president and intimidating the opposing side is not required. I don’t trust them, with them, our country is going to the dogs. A new party will make sure that power is not only in the hands of the few but it will be spread and no-one will have liberty to abuse it. AHOY to the new party I say.
“Home of the Eastern Cape” who is this uneducated person? How dare you claim the blood that washed this land to be that of the people from EC. And for your infor I’m from the EC and would never say such an arrogant thing.Please stick to your Zumaland and encourage your tribalist nonsense and live EC out of your rubbish talk.
The ANC better watch out, if the new party pushes their ideals to the masses, it’s anyone’s election next year.
you can only sing mshin’ wam’ for so long.
sooner or later people will want to know what zuma stands for.
“When the two elephants fight only grass that suffers”. Wake up good people is not about US but THEM.
I am very much surprised by the comments made here.However, for me I am still off the opinion that the dissidents of the new party are out there to pay revenge to the new leadership. Why now? When they were in power everything was rosy.
For me they have lust for permanent power in a sense by failing to get a third term was a blow to their selfish unfinished business of expanding their emperors and biggest ticket to this venture is 2010 which is around the corner.
I advise those fallen into this trap to re-think their position now before is too late.
I will rather follow Tutu by not voting than to be caught in the middle.
At least with the formation of the new party most of us will go and vote next year. The ANC behaviour both pre and after Polokoane had pushed many people into seriously contemplating not voting next year. The decision not to vote was mainly due to the lack of a viable opposition party. The formation of new party by Shilowa and Lekota is applauded as it will give those of us tired of irresponsible statements and action by the ANC/COSATU/SACP leaders as alternative party to vote for. South Africans should be concerned when leaders say:
- they will kill if court are dissatisfactory.
- Young boys are disrespectful to elders
Lastly, as South Africans we are seriously worried at the irresponbile decision to recall a sitting presidents in order to avoid court action against Zuma. If the recall was for reasons related to service delivery this would be understandable. That both Zuma and the caretaker president Motlanthe have said they would not change anything and would continue on current path is indicative of the fact that there are no service delivery concerns that led to ANC decisions. To Shilowa and Lekota, I say continue on your courageous moves. Look after yourselves as you are aware of the ANC decision to thwart (read kill) anyone who tries to form a new party. Look after yourselves because South Africa needs principled people like you. As for us, ordinary citizens, we will go to the polls next year determined to show Luthuli House that irresponsible actions and statements have consequences. They will realise that the country has more than 86 people. They will realise that the Malemarisation of the ANC will not be allowed to create a bannana republic out of South Africa.
I watched Shilowa’s press conference, that is what some of us regard as dignified, mature, cool, level headed. We need people that will lend credibility and dignity to a party, not ill mannered and vulgar children. There is no way I will be associated with Malema, in life or in death. What the party will stand for makes a lot of sense. We are tired of being robbed blind by the ANC, and they are becomming more seasoned in robbing us with each election. Now we will probably go out to vote. Viva! Shilowa VIva!
We know this party will not win the election but will take the the two thirds majority. They will beg us daily to vote with them in partliament.
The formation of a new party is an answer to some of our prayers. We have seen how a liberation movement like the ZANU-PF has turned into an uncontrable “MONSTER” in just under 30 years. This happened because there was no vibrant opposition in Zimbabwe. The ANC with the likes of Malema, Vavi and Ndzimande are currently drinking from the same cup that Robert Mugabe and his cohorts drank from a few years ago. We need to neutralise them and reduce their power now rather than later. I am ready and willing to offer whatever support to the new party.
I do not know much about politics, but i do not support the lekota, Shilowa team. I believe that there might every organisation has its own issue which need to be dealt within such organisation. Lekota team seem to be opportunist. My observation is that they are looking for a support within member of the ANC. They must just form their new party and leave the ANC and stand strong like Holomisa. They must refrain from using the ANC to attract membership.I’m glad that thing are the way they are in the ANC i think they will do a good job by sweeping out the dirt.A lot has been going for long in the ANC and i must tell you that it has escalated to the local government. And fewer of those issues were properly dealt with during these comrades tenure. We all know about corrupt activities in our government institutions and clearly culprits are getting away with it. I further condemn the behaviour of own Comrade Malema. He must be desciplined as well. Since Malema’s appointment, he has never said anything about the youth, but he is a yoth league chair. The ANC must wake up and lets have a neutral person to sit in The Presidency next year election, Zuma out, Mbheki out. Lets all face life after death and understand that our politics tactics do not work always. I must tell you the Lekota/Shilowa team, its a new twist in a political history.
Atleast someone is doing something, I’m total ectatic with the prospects of a new party, it might not be the solution, but it will be an alternative to ANC. Really ANC has been such a dispointment, they are not focusing on what’s best for the country rather what’s best for their political career.
It’s about time they get challenged of their poor actions so they can start of really issues such as the economy, poverty, Aids, Unemployment.
You go Mbazima, and good luck with the new party,
This is required for SA’s health
South Africa was never more ready for a credible alternative to the ANC! Multi-party democracy is only a theory when one party dominates by a 2/3 majority – especially when such party believes that it is the only party destined to be in power for eternity. A credible opposition with the real ability to unseat the ruling party if it becomes inefficient, ineffective or dictatorial, is the true check-and-balance for democracy.
This new initiative is not a “splinter”-party or a “breakaway” faction, but the answer to a lot of frustrated South Africans who previously had no other alternative but to either vote for the ANC, a small opposition party or to abstain from voting – in any regard, having the same result…
This is long overdue true democracy at work – hopefully culminating in a new political party supported by South Africans across all groups.
For the first since 1994 my vote is not assured for the ANC, i never thought such a day would come but it has. My dilema after Polokwane was that there were no alternatives. I was stuck between a party i love and eternally grateful to for everything it has done for the country but one that has been taken over by a highly compromised leader and highly disrespectful individuals, and lack of credible principle-based options. The fact is it is difficult to like the ANC at its current state. Many of us may leave the ANC and predictably as Shilowa said, will be vilified for it, but the fact is i can’t trust my vote to Zuma as president and the likes of Malema on the leadership. No wonder The Arch even went as far as saying he will not vote. I am looking forward to the convention, it might be the hope and option i have been waiting for.
Dear Country people, its all over for the ANC’s 2/3 majority.VONANI even myself,I never thought ever voting for any other party, but due to behaviour of NEC members Std6-Malema I have no choice but offer my vote on a silver platter for the New Party. We will show them at the polls and most of those who have been quite in Parliamnet up to now, might not be sitting there after the election. ANC, how much worried are you?
Bring it on comrades Lekota, Mluleki, Mbazima we will support your organisation you showed us that you are true leaders yuo,ve defended our democracy and we preper to die for it, zuma has denied that there is crisis in anc and he keep on denying that the leadership have deviated its principles, we don,t need mickymouse leaders like you and your political gangster like malema, mantashe, vavi, etc. your time game is over
@TJK
“Multi-party democracy is only a theory when one party dominates by a 2/3 majority” Yeah maybe in your case, when it’s a party you dislike. Democracy is not about majorities it’s about the will of the people. It’s about what you CAN and CANNOT do constitutionally. CAN you rule forever with a 2/3 majority? Yes you can. If that’s the will of the people. That’s democracy. Is it likely? Probably not. I dont mean to say that democracy is the oppression of the majority’s will on a minority. But really, you’re just giving your definition of a “true democracy” – Let me give you a short list of other people who have called their country a “true democracy”; Robert Mugabe, Joseph Stalin, Obiang Nguema(whom J-dawg and the Z-boys are currently visiting), Idi Amin, Kim Jong-Il, Mao-tse Tung and Fidel Castro.
Is this new party a symptom of a HEALTHY democracy? Probably. Are Lekota and Mbazima constitutionally( i.t.o the SA one) allowed to speak out despite all Blade’s and Jordan’s whining? Undoubtedly. Are they constitutionally allowed to form their own party? Undoubtedly. Will it amount to anything: Unlikely. Consider the history and political realities of the country you live in.
Bravo Mr Shilowa,what a relief man,please announce the venue asap and i will be there.To all the “idiots” who keep comparing the new party to UDM,PAC etc,you clearly have a poor analysis on political issues.The situation of the PAC,UDM breakaway then is totally different to the situation now.
If you dont like the new party,who cares?Crawl back to your Zuma-anc hole and leave us to map a way foward.
Bravo, South Africa is waking up. For a very long time the ANC was treating us like we are unable to use our brains. They took decisions without considering us voters, ther removed Mr. Mbeki, they disbanded scorpions and they thought they wer untouchable. I am one of those who will attend Convention.
Viva Shilowa Viva.
At least we now have a better chance of denying the ANC two thirds majority as most people were
thinking of going the Tutu route and that equals to ANC 2/3 majority. Remember not long after the leadership change in Polokwane; Scorpions gone,SABC board under attack, Mbeki out, etc and that is before the general elections.With two thirds majority in next years elections they could be rewriting the whole constitution. Viva Lekota and co though I’m not enterely convinced by your intentions
The existence of a party that will prevent the ruling party from holding an absolute majority will prevent the country from being abused and disrespected by a few people and encourage accountability.If u see a problem with a setup like that then u have a big problem and need to go stay in Zimbabwe to fully comprehend why it can be a big problem
Thank u very much ntate Shilowa & ntate Lekota for realizing dat the current leadership of ANC is nonsense & their credibility is lower than the soles of their shoes!How the hell did they expect us to vote for them in 2009 with airheads like JZ & Malema as presidents? I’m in my 20s & sure as hell Malema doesnt represent me & my believe of what democracy should be!I’d rather join the new party that staying with the devil I know! Whoever said “better the devil I know”,was very timid bcos to be successful in anything u need to take risks. Risk=change,not staying with the leopard & hope it will change its sports dat is being plain stupid. I welcome the new party with open hands!!!
Hey nobody said to you Zuma supporters that you should give a rats *** whether a new party is formed. You keep saying, “ag we don’t care, zuma has so many supporters blah blah blah”..If that’s the case, then you shouldn’t be worried, you should just keep your mouths shut and let us eat humble pie if he becomes president. Fact is regardless of being proved innocent with the rape charge, this moemish still admitted publicly to sleeping with a woman whom he knew had aids without protection and worse off he says she was wearing a short skirt so it means she “wanted it”. Ag sies man, if the man can’t make straightforward personal decisions, as a 20 yr old student, I want nothing to do with this man. Don’ tell me about the struggle, this is now!
they suffer the worst form of ignorance compounded by arrogance,jz has refused public debate,how their thinking works,i don’t know.they have not as much as apologised,in his true arrogant form Gwewde said Molema was not to be repremanded.i need an answer here people,when zuma wants to return to parliament,he is doing it to serve the people,when others follow the same route they are power mongers.we are not stupid,they keep sayng “comrade Thabo remains a loyal member of the anc”,why did he then challenge zuma to a public debate.the very same gwede took another swipe at Mbeki while adressing the BFM, saying he was the architect of the split,how different is this to what Lekota did,this he says of a”comrade” they have sent to Zim to mediate.we are building unity in the anc,they say,yet they keep on attacking their “comrade”,maybe he is being “crashed” for wanting to embarras zuma.the anc is a joke,i never thought i’d ever her myself say that.people who support this new anc must tell us what the democracy-loving anc are doing with a military camp in kzn,they have these ex mk’s who think they are entitled to things without working,we all know about the zim war veterans,they have released a statement that they are tried and tested,these are scare tacticsto scare us into voting fo them.they kiled Mbeki’s body guard and kidnapped lekota’s.we shall not be deterered
I am Ray Hartley, the editor of The Times, South Africa, a daily newspaper which was launched in June 2007 under the Sunday Times umbrella. I'm also the editor of Times LIVE.
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Mze
October 15, 2008 at 10:47 am2. The party’s values will center on the protection of the constitution, the judiciary and the rule of law;
3. The party will support the direct election of a president who cannot be recalled by a party while in office;
4. The party will support a constituency based system where MPs are directly elected by communities instead of the current system where MPs are decided on by party bosses.
These points alone will make voting for this new party a logical action.