Opposition parties should form ‘Coalition SA’

Undo all-pervasive corruption is first task, writes Sandy Johnston from Port Elizabeth.

The Democratic Alliance is in disarray at the very time South Africa needs a viable alternative to the rotten-to-the-core, totally incompetent ANC – an ANC which has, progressively and unrelentingly, pushed SA to the very edge of an economic black hole.

Given our situation, the only workable option for our country is a coalition of political forces and an abiding strategy for economic and social stability. Given this, South Africans have the work ethic and energy to make a success of our nation’s future.

We already have leadership of integrity amongst some existing political parties. Together with corporates, trade unions and businesspeople, we have the professionals, technicians and entrepreneurs to create a bright future for our beloved land.

A key success factor could be defining a role for Helen Zille, who breathed life to our existing coalition politics in terms of coalition negotiations.

The first thing the opposition political parties need to do is to resolve to retain their individual political identity and declare very firmly, in principle, to include a coalition plank to go in their 2019 election platforms, to the effect that should they together comprise a majority, they will systematically undo the allpervasive corruption. And also make the changes needed to ensure no president or political party can ever arrogate to themselves the level of power Zuma and the ANC have done.

A binding declaration such as this will represent a beacon of hope for all South Africans who care for the future of this land. It will be a much-awaited clarion call for the electorate, who will unhesitatingly use it to resoundingly reject the ANC.

To prepare for victory, “Coalition SA” will have their work cut out. They will need an election strategy team of very smart people, dedicated to the urgent task of closely looking at events of the past 20 years and not repeating them.