ActionSA has succumbed to the outcry of its supporters and says it will not hold coalition talks will the African National Congress (ANC).
A fortnight ago the Sunday Times reported that ActionSA was gatvol at being “abused” by the Democratic Alliance and had began having discussions with The ANC.
Party President Herman Mashaba had approved the decision along with the senate, it’s highest decision-making body. But things took a drastic turn when Mashaba stated publicly that he would quit if ActionSA got into bed with the ANC.
The party conducted a survey involving about 30 000 participants, following the collapse of the multi-party government in Johannesburg in September.
The overwhelming majority of respondents did not favour a coalition with the ANC.
“Arising from ActionSA’s decision to place our approach to coalitions under review, a period of public engagement has been concluded and was the subject of a senate meeting last night,” said Mike Beaumont, the national chair on Thursday.
“The consequences of these discussions is the resounding mandate from South Africans to terminate any motion of working with the ANC and to focus on…building the political alternative to failed government and corruption. Arising from this mandate, ActionSA has resolved that talks with the ANC will be terminated.”
Instead, the party’s supporters favoured coalition partnerships with the IFP, ACDP and the Freedom Front Plus.
The second most unpopular party was the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), with 26% voting against the coalition.
Beaunont added: “Eighty-four percent of respondents still want ActionSA to enter coalitions because they see coalitions as the future. ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has written to the DA about co-governance concerns, and power sharing is prioritised and placed on the agenda.
Source: News24, Times Live, image from Twitter: @MarciaBarron777