ATM rubbishes Coalition Dialogue hosted by Deputy President Paul Mashatile

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The governing party ANC seems to have come to its and senses by realizing that perhaps they have lost touch with reality and the livelihoods of people they are governing. The party have been in denial for some time and also repeatedly said they are confident that they will retain power by outright majority next year.

Just on the eve of general elections in 2024, the party decided to host coalition talks with various parties hosted by Deputy President Paul Mashatile in the University of the Western Cape yesterday.

Various political analysts and politicians have said recently that perhaps it is about time we accept that from here onwards South Africa will be governed through coalitions, even though they haven’t been fruitful.

Mashatile said that the two day dialogue seeks to lay a foundation for the creation of a National Framework guiding the effective management and navigation of coalition governments in South Africa.

“[Our] political focus must unerringly remain on the well-being of our people. Our pursuit of national consensus on how to approach coalition governments is a matter of national interest. Properly handled, it has the potential to bring the necessary stability, especially to the local government sphere, despite the intemperance we have witnessed in relation to coalitions.

“This dialogue therefore seeks to promote fidelity to the national interest so that we remain focused on the fulfilment of the constitutional injunction to build a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous society,” he said.

He added that the frequent collapse of coalition governments is sometimes deliberate. He adds that some of the challenges to coalitions include opportunistic behaviour and power play, among others.

The official opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) launched what they call moonshot pact earlier this year consisting of various parties excluding the third largest party, the EFF. Led by the DA, John Steenhuisen said they have to do everything in their power to remove the ANC from power and keep the EFF out.

The EFF said that was just hogwash and they are not moved that that they were not invited.

During the dialogue yesterday, the DA was in full support of the idea of coalition governments but also added that there has to be new legislation introduced that would limit motions of no confidence per year unless laws are broken.

On the other hand the African Transformation Movement (ATM) distanced itself from the proposal saying this is one of the methods the ANC wants to use to govern through the back door and ensure that they don’t lose power.

“We are not going to give credence to this gathering that clearly has unconstitutional objectives by participating in it any further as it undermines and excludes indigenous faith groups & parties represented in Parliament” said the party leader Vuyolethu Zungula.

The dialogue continues today.