The short, unhappy reign of Mamphela Ramphele
MAMPHELA Ramphele’s return to being “an active citizen” brought to a close a disastrous foray into politics that was met by controversy or failure at almost every turn.
This week, her Agang SA party said it would do an online survey to assess its condition. By the Numbers looks at some of the wreckage it will have to address. 0 Number of provincial seats Agang SA won in the 2014 national and provincial elections. Its best provincial result was in North West, where it won 0.44% of the vote. Its worst was in the Eastern Cape (0.11%). 1 Number of provincial seats the local Bushbuckridge Residents’ Association won in the 2014 elections in the Mpumalanga legislature, where it got 1.15%. By comparison, Agang SA got only 0.13%. 2 Number of seats Agang SA achieved in parliament with 0.28% of the vote. 3 Percentage of the vote political analyst Susan Booysen predicted in 2013 that Agang SA would get nationally in the 2014 election. Other 2013 predictions from analysts included: 4% from Kwandile Nkondlo; 4%, Ralph Mathekga; 5.5%, William Gumede; 6%, Peter Attard Montalto; 8%, Mzukisi Qobo; and 5% to 10% from Daniel Silke. 6 Number of days Ramphele lasted as the DA’s presidential candidate after an ostensible merger. During the announcement on January 28 2014, DA leader Helen Zille said: “This is a game-changing moment for South Africa.” Confirming the implosion of the merger six days later, on February 2, she said: “Dr Ramphele has demonstrated — once and for all — that she cannot be trusted to see any project through to its conclusion.” 7 Number of Agang SA provincial branches, out of nine, that met on June 16 to table a motion of no confidence in Ramphele following allegations of fraud levelled against her. She was given 48 hours to resign. On June 30, the party obtained an interdict in the High Court in Johannesburg against those members on the grounds that they did not represent the party and the meetings were therefore invalid. 12 Amount in millions of rands that the party estimated Agang SA’s debt to be at the end of June. 24 Number of hours before the proposed DA merger that Agang SA assured its members no such move was pending. The assurance, in the form of a statement subsequently withdrawn from the Agang SA website, told members to “ignore this speculation” and said of rumours about the merger: “Do not read any truth into them. The only truth is what we communicate directly to you.” 29.1.1.3 Number of the clause in Agang SA’s interim constitution that led to the breakdown of the merger with the DA. The clause states that a person’s membership may be terminated or suspended “upon remaining or becoming a member of another political party”. It conflicted with the DA’s constitution, which says: “Only party members can serve on the representative and other structures of the party and be public representatives of the party.” Because Ramphele refused to sign up as a DA member or dissolve her party into the DA, she could not stand as its presidential candidate. 30 Amount in millions of rands that outgoing Agang SA spokesman Philip Machanik estimated Ramphele had raised for the party during her time at its helm. 55 Amount in millions of rands Forbes estimated Ramphele’s personal wealth to be in 2013. 74 Number of days since Ramphele last tweeted on May 8. Her account, @MamphelaR, has 48 800 followers. 382 Number of days between Agang SA formally launching on June 22 2013 and Ramphele’s retirement from politics on July 8 2014. At the launch, she said the party would establish structures and sign up members “with a view to building Agang SA into a formidable challenger for power in the 2014 elections”. In announcing her retirement, she said: “Unfortunately, postelection events have undermined our efforts.” 506 Number of days between Ramphele announcing she would be establishing Agang SA, on February 18 2013, and her retirement. 52 350 Number of votes that Agang SA managed nationally in the May 7 elections. 100 000 Number of members and volunteers Agang SA chief operating officer Andrew Gasnolar claimed the party had mobilised by March 19 2014. R200 000 Amount of money at the centre of a dispute between Ramphele and Agang SA chairman Mike Tshishonga. The sum is due to the party as a refund from the Independent Electoral Commission. Each has opened a fraud case against the other over the bank account into which the money was to be paid. Tshishonga claimed the account was opened with his signature, but without his knowledge or permission. 1 000 000 Number of signatures Ramphele aimed to get for an Agang SA petition launched on April 27 2013 to urge electoral reform. The actual number of signatures obtained was never revealed.