President Jacob Zuma has in the recent past on various occasions reached out to the Afrikaner and other minorities. He recently held a day-long discussion with Afrikaner cultural and agricultural organisations such as the FAK, Solidarity, the Afrikanerbond, Transvaal Agricultural Union, Agri-SA and others; he held a barbeque with artists and writers such as Steve Hofmeyr and Dan Roodt and together with Solidarity visited poor Afrikaners.

These discussions were rightfully viewed by Afrikaners with cynicism as political manoeuvres before the election. President Zuma has now followed it up after the election by offering a deputy minister's position to the FF Plus in continuation of his reaching out to the Afrikaner.

During the election, the FF Plus vigorously criticised the ANC about the fact that South Africa for the first time as a result of the ANC's policy has become a food importer. The Deputy Minister's position which the FF Plus has been offered has exactly to do with Agriculture and food security.

Because the ANC has a 65% majority, the party does not need to make such an offer to any political party. There is therefore no question about a coalition or any other similar agreements between the ANC and the FF Plus. In talks about the issue, President Zuma agreed that the FF Plus retains its autonomy as a political party, as well as its critical role as opposition party in full.

In his speech during his inauguration (9 May 2009) President Zuma said the following about this issue:

"We must forge a partnership for reconstruction, development and progress.

"In this partnership there is a place for all South Africans, black and white.

"It is a partnership founded on principles of mutual respect and the unfettered expression of different views. We do not seek conformity.

"We seek a vibrant, dynamic partnership that is enriched by democratic debate that values diverse views and accommodates dissent."

As FF Plus leader I had broadly engaged with Afrikaner cultural and Agricultural organisations about the issue and asked their advice about the offer. Their overwhelming and unanimous reaction was that the hand of cooperation which is being extended to us but should not summarily be slapped away but should be seen as an opportunity.

The FF Plus would therefore want to make use of this opportunity to put issues on the table which are important to us, such as Afrikaans Universities and education; name changes; affirmative action and poverty; self-determination; the status of Orania; amnesty and general minority rights and to negotiate them further with the ANC.

The FF Plus therefore sees the acceptance of the offer as a political experiment which holds specific advantages for South Africa, for our supporters and for the agricultural community. The decision will however from time to time have to be re-evaluated on the hand of certain guidelines in order to ensure that the objectives of this are still being attained.

Some of the guidelines which the FF Plus had set include the following:

1. Without giving up any principles;

2. Retain the right to criticise the ANC where necessary;

3. It has to be to the advantage of the promotion of interest politics;

4. May not restrict the FF Plus' growth potential;

5. That it will be used as an opportunity to the advantage and better protection of minority rights and Afrikaner freedom;

6. That it is consistently evaluated.

This decision also does not change the FF Plus' view regarding the forming of an opposition coalition to reduce the ANC's monopoly on power. Where the ANC in future will have less than 50% of the support, the FF Plus is still in favour of opposition coalitions. Various such situations can already arise in certain towns and cities after the next local government elections.

The FF Plus, during the past election, had enthusiastically worked toward the ANC not getting a two-thirds majority. It is in the interest of South Africa and the ANC that the party does not get a two-thirds majority and the FF Plus' view on this has not changed at all. In making use of this opportunity the FF Plus will not at all work with the ANC to give it a two-thirds majority.

The decision to accept the offer of President Zuma had literally to be taken within hours. That is why this strategy will still further be discussed by the FF Plus' structures.

Statement issued by Dr Pieter Mulder, Freedom Front Plus leader, May 10 2009

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