By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The political parties exploring a multi-party agreement (DA, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA, UIM and SNP) have announced the appointment of Professor William Gumede as the chair of the National Convention.
The convention will take place on the 16 and 17 August 2023 at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park.
The aim is to explore how a potential coalition government could be structured in the event that the ANC does not get an outright majority in next year’s election.
In a joint statement on Thursday, they said that Professor Gumede would be an independent chairperson of the process, and was not affiliated to any of the participating parties.
They said they had considered Gumede’s significant contributions to South Africa and various democracies around the world, adding that “it is evident that there is no South African who is better placed to guide our multi-party process.”
“Professor Gumede has already begun the important work of chairing weekly meetings of the political parties involved in the efforts to establish a multi-party agreement,” they said.
They said the multi-party grouping of parties is committed to presenting South Africans with a compelling alternative vision and direction for our country.
“The basis for this agreement will be an agenda to address the greatest challenges facing our country to inspire the millions of South Africans who have lost hope. This agreement must lay the foundation for a new multi-party government in 2024 that can start the work of moving our country forward again.”
Gumede is an Associate Professor, School of Governance & former Convener, Political Economy, at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Founder of the Democracy Works Foundation.
He authored what is regarded as one of the most insightful books about former president Thabo Mbeki and the ANC in the mid-2000s, titled Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC.
Gumede will run the process, together with Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) chief executive Nerine Kahn, Germany-based Trier Institute for Democracy, and Party Research director Professor Uwe Jun, and experienced journalist Zamayirha Peter.