Talk of a possible tie-up between the ANC and DA in the event of a dramatic decline in the governing party’s electoral support on May 29 is premature, according to DA deputy chair Ashor Sarupen.
Next week’s election looks set to be the toughest yet for the ANC, with various polls forecasting it will lose its electoral majority, placing it in a position where it will be compelled to start coalition talks. Should this happen, investors are focusing on who the governing party’s prospective partners might be.
Market watchers expect an ANC partnership with Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party or the EFF to result in capital outflows, while a tie-up with the DA could leave things about the same.
Sarupen said the DA was not campaigning to be in second position and expected the multiparty charter (MPC) to mount a successful challenge to the ANC.
Business Day previously reported this is unlikely to occur, partly because the MPC’s unity is threatened by the DA and IFP’s flirtation with post-election alliances with the ANC, potentially fracturing the coalition’s electoral base.
A poll, updated on weekdays by think-tank the Social Research Foundation (SRF), puts support for the ANC at 42.2% at a voter turnout of 66%, while the DA’s support sits at 23.7%.
Sarupen said on Thursday during a media briefing: “We’re going to have an election where turnout is unpredictable and if every opposition voter pitches up to vote, where the MPC is larger than the ANC there is a very different conversation to be had. So I think it is premature considering that there are so many variables to presume that a coalition configuration right now means that the ANC will be speaking from a position of strength.
“The financial markets like the DA’s policies, and the economic policies were fairly well received by most outlets.”
The EFF, DA, IFP and MK are likely to emerge as king makers, particularly if the ANC’s support plunges below 45%.
The ANC’s head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, previously said the party was targeting a minimum of 11-million votes to ensure that it retained its majority status.
At a media briefing on Thursday ahead of its final campaign rally in Johannesburg, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said campaigning would continue until election day.
“While the support for the ANC has been steadily increasing, while we are confident of a decisive mandate, we know that this election is not won until the voting stations close,” he said.
“That is why we will be intensifying our campaign over the next few days. As we speak, the entire leadership of the ANC, Cosatu, the SACP and other formations of the broader democratic movement are out in communities across the country. We are putting all our energy, resources and effort into a final push to get out every vote on election day,” said Mbalula.
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