Maimane: we won’t join pacts just to oust ANC
● Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane says his party won’t join up with other parties with the sole intention of ousting the ANC, but will instead negotiate priority areas that will inform the creation of a new government.
Maimane has identified job creation as the top priority should Bosa form part of a new government.
The party is not part of the DA-led multiparty charter of opposition parties that intend to form a coalition government should the ANC lose its majority. Maimane would prefer to enter into such negotiations after the elections.
The Bosa leader said he foresees a coalition reality and believes his experience as DA leader in coalition governments dating back to 2016 would come in handy.
“In 2016 we put together the coalition in Joburg, so I bring that experience. That’s why Herman Mashaba remained mayor for so long. We worked with opposition parties to build a capable government. I am not interested in just coalescing [with other parties] for the removal of the ANC.
“What’s the point of that? You can remove them and just end up creating chaos. We want to remove them and create a government that is credible and will deliver for the people. We will not coalesce with corrupt people who are incompetent. This is about better governance.”
Maimane said the key to forming a successful coalition arrangement was to agree on priority areas that would take centre stage in a future government.
“You will never be able to accommodate every single policy of all the political parties. For me, what’s important are the five priority areas. We will have to look at jobs, education (because without skills you are wasting your time), safety, eradicating corruption, and inclusion and justice, to ensure that there is shared prosperity.”
He ruled out the possibility of Bosa working with the ANC after the elections if the ruling party falls short of a simple majority at the national level.
Maimane said the current crop of ANC leaders were no longer credible and should not be assisted to remain in power.
“You can’t help people who have stolen in South Africa [to] stay in government. I don’t hate the ANC, [but] I think there is life after the ANC. The vision of Mandela no longer lives in the ANC, [and] it must be continued elsewhere. We must build a different cabinet of capable people. The ANC has had 30 years — they must go rest now.”
Maimane said his former party, the DA, was not realistic about the stark realities facing the country and did not sufficiently emphasise the importance of shared prosperity.
I am not interested in just coalescing [with other parties] for the removal of the ANC. What’s the point of that?
Mmusi Maimane
“Parties such as the DA fail to appreciate that there is an injustice in the country and that black South Africans are being left out. Apartheid bequeathed to us two South Africas. When we say we want to build one South Africa, it would be remiss for us not to attend to the question of justice and inclusivity. [People can debate other important issues, but] they don’t form part of the priority areas. If we fail at [the five priority areas], the future is bleak.”
After consultation with economists such as Ricardo Hausmann, a Harvard professor and expert on economic development, Bosa was due to launch the first part of its manifesto, centred on creating jobs and reducing unemployment, today.
Maimane said the main crisis in South Africa is unemployment, and that too many young people are unemployed. Bosa would target three areas: the condition of the economy; stimulating the township economy and focusing on investment in infrastructure; and equipping South Africans with essential skills.
“We look at the conditions of the economy such as Eskom and Transnet — we need to fix the logistics and ensure that the lights are on and labour is safe. The second is about the stimulus in the township economy and stimulating investment in infrastructure. The third is skilling and the pipeline that goes into it.
“Therefore, much of my manifesto is [about] ensuring young people can compete with anyone in the world. That [feeds] into improving the education system, increasing the [matric] pass [mark] from 30% to 50%, incentivising teaching, and introducing blended learning for South Africa to be a competitive player in [the] new technologies of the world.”
Maimane said the rest of his manifesto would address defence and security, among other issues.
“The most crucial dilemma we face is that we have no government. It has stopped functioning. That’s why when Bosa said we would amend the Electoral Act, [that was about trying] to get ethical leadership to come and represent us in parliament. When you have corrupt leaders, there is no point. To build the capability of the state, you have to ensure you have the most competent government [comprised of] people who don’t see government as a side hustle.
“I want MPs to come with degrees. We can’t be sending people to parliament who don’t have post-matric education, particularly for cabinet posts. When you put those people there, you are [not only] telling young people there is nothing to aspire to, but you are also weakening the institution.”
He said Bosa promises the electorate economic growth and job creation through its jobs plan; an overhaul of the education system so that it is up-to-date and skills-aligned; improved safety and security through a radical reduction in crime; and a capable, efficient and merit-based government that gets on with doing the job.