ANC NOT THREATENED BY DA-ID COALITION

The swallowing of the Independent Democrats (ID) by the Democratic Alliance (DA) is not a threat to the ANC.  There can never be a true merger between forces that are unequal in political strength. The DA has indeed outsmarted and outwitted the ID in this instance. It is very unfortunate that the pluralistic political voices that obtained in the political terrain have now been reduced.

The ANC represents the aspiration of millions of South Africans who are poor and who have been victims of colonial and apartheid rule.

These millions of South Africans fully understands that the DA and ID in its belly now, had not and will not represent their interest as evidenced by their repeated onslaught on the ANC policies of Affirmative Action and the Black Economic Empowerment policy amongst others.

The people of our country holds the ANC in high esteem as evidenced by the results of last year's general elections, because of its track record in the past sixteen years (16) in government and the eight two  (82) years of unbroken struggle towards freedom of all South Africans particularly the black majority.

No amount of swallowing of another organisation by the DA will erase these credentials of the ANC from the minds of South Africans.

It is very unfortunate that the ID allowed itself to be elbowed-out of the South African political landscape by the DA.

We make a call to all those former members of the ID who are outraged by this sell-out act on the part of their leadership to join the ANC in pursuing a South Africa that belongs to all those who live in it and a better life for all South Africans.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, August 15 2010

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