‘We’re a party for change’

The first political party in South Africa that has chosen the middle ground between capitalism and socialism is determined to be the home for all South Africans who want change.

Outspoken former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza, the founding president of the newly launched African Democratic Change, said the party is neither communist nor capitalist in character, but a socialist democratic party.

She said the party’s policy approach considered the fact that South Africa is a capitalist economy, hence it did not reject capitalism completely, but took into account prevailing conditions in South Africa, including the need to address socio-economic inequality, poverty and bringing unity to all South Africans.

In September, Khoza, who resigned from the ANC when she was charged for bringing it into disrepute after she spoke out against corruption, said the capitalist economy must be underpinned by transparency, openness and an ubuntu philosophy.

“We are, therefore, social democrats. This is not a communist organisation. We want to grow the economy within a capitalist ubuntu context in order to achieve social justice. The party needed change; change that would eradicate poverty and narrow inequalities through quality education system and state intervention to achieve social justice,” Khoza said.

“Business should, therefore, not fear doing their business under African Democratic Change, because we would abolish undercover capitalism.”

She said unity must be founded in the truth that South Africa would never be prosperous or free until all its people lived in brotherhood and sisterhood and enjoyed equality and opportunities.

Khoza said the ruling ANC not only failed to address the people’s needs and unify the country, but also failed to self-correct. On the other hand, the DA still lacked legitimacy and trust among blacks who saw it as primarily representing white and capitalist interests.

Khoza said they were not aiming for victory, but being an alternative to the ANC mainly and other parties in general.

The new party is the product of a merger between disgruntled members from political entities and civil society organisations.