Confused about what the various political parties promise and stand for? Here’s a potted summary to help you make that cross on your ballot paper next week.
Confused about what the various political parties promise and stand for? Here’s a potted summary to help you make that cross on your ballot paper next week.
The Congress of the People (COPE) grew out of a split in the ANC when Thabo Mbeki resigned as President. It is led by Mosiuoa Lekota, Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2008. COPE won 7.42% of the national vote in the 2009 election, and 13.67% in the Eastern Cape. COPE says South Africa needs a government that:
1. Is corruption-free, able to be accountable for any mishaps and reliable.
2. Empowers its people and promotes public participation in all spheres.
3. Will create opportunities for growing development and a sustainable economy.
4. Will make sure that the education system and healthcare is at an incredibly high, world-class standard.
5. Will create initiatives to combat the high incidence of crime, and to increase the rate of safety and security.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) was launched in 1997 with the party’s current president, Bantu Holomisa being elected in 1998. They got 0.8% of the national vote in the 2009 election and 4.13% in the Eastern Cape. These are the UDM’s main standpoints in its 2014 manifesto.
1. Developing infrastructure by drafting a development plan emphasising closer co-operation between the government and the people.
2. Contribute to small business development and ensure that citizens become their own employers, rather than seeking employment.
3. A zero tolerance policy on violence for crimes against women and children, and ensuring the participation of women in development processes through education, health and nutrition programmes.
4. Enhance co-ordination and co-operation between the police service, correctional facilities, and departments of justice.
5. Bring healthcare closer to poorer communities, implement nutrition, health care, and family planning into basic health education training.
The Africa National Congress (ANC) was founded in 1912 by John Dube, Pixley ka Isaka Seme and Sol Plaatje. It has been the ruling party since the 1994 elections and is led by President Jacob Zuma. It won 65.9 % in the 2009 national election and 68.82% in the Eastern Cape. The ANC’s manifesto focuses on:
1. Provide one million houses over the next five years and increase access to basic services.
2. Make two years of pre-school education compulsory, eradicate adult illiteracy and open two new universities.
3. Strengthen and expand the free primary health care programme, improve management of public hospitals, and reduce the costs of private health care.
4. Fight corruption and crime, including requiring any member of the ANC who is found guilty to step down from all leaderships positions.
5. Strengthen participatory democracy in workplaces, schools, hospitals and clinics, and in our communities.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was founded in 2013 by Julius Malema, former ANC Youth League leader. It has attracted some big names, such as Kenny Kunene and Dali Mpofu. Polls have shown that 49% of its supporters are under 24-years-of-age. Women represent just 33% of their support base. Its manifesto aims to deal with:
1. The nationalisation (without compensation) of strategic sectors of the economy, such as mines and banks.
2. Free healthcare, education houses and sanitation.
3. Industrial development that secures workers’ rights and the creation of sustainable jobs in the industrial sector.
4. An accountable society that stands free of victimisation from state organisations and institutions.
5. Abolishment of the tender system in the delivery of social needs.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) was formed in 2000, after it grew out of the Democratic Party. It is led by Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape and previous Mayor of Cape Town. It won 16.7% of the national vote in the 2009 election and 9.99% in the Eastern Cape. Its manifesto includes:
1. Fighting corruption and holding government to account.
2. Incentives for job creation and a focus on small business.
3. Making land reform work in rural areas and addressing urban land and housing pressures.
4. Providing quality education by training 15 000 more teachers per year and giving every child a textbook for every subject.
5. Introducing a constituency-based electoral system to make MPs more accountable.
Founded in February 2013, Agang (meaning ‘let us build’ in Sotho–Tswana) was founded in 2013 by Dr Mamphela Ramphele, an anti-apartheid activist and businesswoman. Their manifesto focuses on five key topics: empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, employment, and effective governance. These are explained as:
1. To see empowerment measured less in terms of scorecards and more in terms of inputs such as quality schooling, effective government and quality healthcare.
2. Introduce a 50% minimum pass mark for all subject and grades, while teachers would face competency tests to determine their pay increases and bonuses.
3. Slash red tape entangling small businesses, make changes to the tax system and strengthen competition law that would eliminate barriers to entry.
4. Focus on skills would convert some public schools to vocational training, with additional funds for on-the-job training for youths trying to enter the workforce.
5. "Putting citizens first" by, for example, stopping corruption, demilitarising the police and getting private doctors to run clinics.
