Recently established think-tank Rivonia Circle held more deliberations with civic organisations and political leaders at the weekend regarding the formation of a new political party to contest elections in 2024.
Rivonia Circle chair Songezo Zibi said the event was “a gathering of community and regional organisations with whom we have worked over the last nine months”.
“Those civic engagements have been partly about finding what the problems or challenges are, people’s perceptions of politics and the political system and their understanding of what solutions may work in the short term.”
The event included prominent grassroots organisations and pressure groups such as Treatment Action Campaign and Abahlali Basemjondolo, which represents informal settlements and the poor. UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and ANC veteran Reverend Frank Chikane delivered video messages to the more than 400 participants, including those streaming the event.
Chikane said: “Those who come from the United Democratic Front of the old days know what it means (when) all sectors of society, political entities, professional organisations, community groups work together irrespective of the differences they may have.”
There were troubling trends of ''lawlessness and instability” that had taken root in SA in the past 15 years, eventually manifesting as threats to economic development and democracy, said Chikane, who was speaking in his capacity as chair of the Defend our Democracy campaign.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, we have been following a trajectory that is very negative for South Africa. In fact ... we started very well in this country, with Mandela and other leaders, who worked very hard to transform this country and make it what it is supposed to be. But, unfortunately, in the last 10 to 15 years, there were individuals who were more interested in enriching themselves at the expense of the people, and capturing state institutions, to use them for their own benefit or benefit of their friends, business colleagues and family.”
He added that fighting the state of lawlessness and instability requires “actions instead of lamentation”.
“The corruption has gone beyond any single party. It has gone to community levels, local governments, provincial and national. And there’s no single party that can deal with this issue. That’s why I am convinced that we need South Africans to act together. A collective action would produce results — and quick results for that matter,” he said.
Zibi said: “The discussion about a political movement always comes up, especially when people see the solutions that are on the table, the question of implementation comes up, basically, who’s going to do it, because there’s a disconnection with the political actors. So we felt that we need to bring all of those people together.”
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