Polarising politics at play

FOR A while, I was of the opinion that the future of South Africa, especially from a political standpoint, lay in coalition governance.

However, it is clear that we are not ready for this type of union to work.

We are far from living up to the motto on our national coat of arms. At this very point in time, we cannot claim to be united in our diversity. In fact, divisive rhetoric is the chosen tool of many a prominent politician.

Politics makes strange bedfellows and none stranger than the DA and EFF coalition.

This purely political merger had supporters on both sides raising eyebrows, but has since been disbanded in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and is somewhat shaky in the Tshwane Metro.

The common ground is too small a patch for coalition politics to be successful.

The DA first needs introspection.

The party needs to find its identity before anything else.

The DA is torn between an older, mostly white conservative control and a younger, predominantly non-white support base that’s inclined to the left.

The De Lille matter hit the party where it hurts as it was pummelled in every round of that gruelling saga.

As a one-time DA supporter, I, like many, am disappointed in the calibre of our representatives holding public office especially at the tier of local government.

For a long time, the DA has taken its brown (Indian and coloured) support for granted. Summing up the DA, it will take nothing short of a miracle for the party to keep its continual improving election record.

The EFF, on the other hand, is the small dog with the biggest bark.

It is yielding such influence that even the ANC is often taking its cue from EFF leader Julius Malema and his red brigade.

Malema has evolved into a political cult figure with an ever-increasing fan base.

The EFF’s success is largely due to the attention given to it chosen support base.

The party’s appeal lies in identifying with the young, black and mostly unemployed youth.

Malema, like any other seasoned career politician, knows all the right words to keep supporters interested.

The political playing field is open for all parties to promote their brand but it’s important that the political party is clear about its identity and target market so the product being sold remains appealing and attractive.

Maybe some time in the future we’ll live up to our motto of unity in diversity and coalition politics will be a workable concept.

We might even see parties merging but a possible Democratic Allied Freedom Fighters is not happening any time soon.

RIKESH ISHWARLALL Pietermaritzburg