Multi-Party National Convention makes solid progress towards a pre-election agreement

16 August 2023

The political parties involved in negotiating a pre-election agreement to inaugurate a new government following next year’s election have, under the guidance of independent Chairperson William Gumede, made solid progress on the first day of talks. Deliberations have been robust yet constructive, and we are pleased to announce the following.

We have agreed that the name of our pre-election agreement will be the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa.

We have agreed that our Shared Vision for South Africa will be: A new government to build a just, inclusive and prosperous South Africa based on opportunity, freedom and security for all its citizens.

We have agreed that the priorities of this new coalition government will be:

1. Growing the economy and creating jobs.

2. Ending loadshedding and achieving energy security.

3. Achieving law and order that combats crime, corruption and drugs.

4. Ensuring quality education that delivers opportunities for all.

5. Delivering basic services to all through high quality infrastructure.

6. Building a professional public service that delivers to all and ending cadre deployment.

7. Ensuring quality healthcare for all within a caring healthcare system.

8. Building a social relief framework for South African households living in poverty.

Central to achieving the Vision and Priorities of our new government, is the need to ensure that governance is underpinned by an ethos that seeks to promote South Africa’s long-term best interest.

As such, we have agreed that our new coalition government will govern in accordance with our Shared Governing Principles, which are a commitment to:

1. The South African Constitution, the rule of law, and equality before the law.

2. Decentralising power to the lowest effective level of government.

3. Accountable, transparent government with zero tolerance for corruption.

4. Capable government that spends public money efficiently to deliver quality services to all.

5. Caring government that puts people first and prioritises the poor.

6. An open market economy.

7. Policies guided by evidence that they produce positive results for society.

8. Redress our unjust past by promoting nonracialism and unity in our diversity.

We have furthermore resolved to extend invitations to all political parties in South Africa that subscribe to our vision, priorities of government, shared governing principles and the pre-requisite to unseat the ANC and keep the EFF out. All political parties that subscribe and act according to these principles are requested to come forward and engage in future talks to join the Multi-Party Charter for South Africa.

Issued by DA, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA, ISANCO, UIM, SNP, 16 August 2023