On Monday prominent businesswoman Mamphela Ramphele announced the launch of an initiative ("Agang SA") that will evolve into a political party that will eventually contest the 2014 elections. She told a press conference at the Women's Gaol on Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, that she was "working with a group of fellow citizens to form a party political platform that will focus on rekindling hope that building the country of our dreams is possible in our lifetime. Our consultations and conversations across the lengths and breadths of our country have confirmed a hunger for a new beginning."
Ramphele was apparently vague on who was working with her on this new venture. City Press reports that among those who attended were commentator and businessman Moeletsi Mbeki and gender activist Nomboniso Gasa.
Concurrently with the press conference a website - Agang South Africa (www.agangsa.co.za) - went live. Whois.co.za records state that the agangsa.co.za domain is registered in the name of a non profit company called "Great Potential for South Africa". This company was registered with the Company and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) on December 14 last year. Its directors, all of whom were appointed on the same day, are listed as Prince Mashele, Brutas Madala, Moeletsi Mbeki and Mamphela Ramphele.
Moeletsi Mbeki is the chairperson of the Forum for Public Dialogue (FPD) and Brutus Madala a senior researcher. Prince Mashele was CEO of the organisation until he was suspended by the board of the FPD on January 14 this year following a falling out with Mbeki.
According to the FPD's website it is a "not-for-profit organisation (Reg. No. 2012/002095/08) founded in 2012 to conduct research and contribute to a national dialogue about South Africa's current and future political, economic and social life. We subscribe to no political, economic or religious ideology, and are willing critically to assess the validity and soundness of any facts or ideas that affect South Africa."
The FPD and Great Potential for South Africa share the same address: "Office no. 20, Palazzo Towers West, Montecasino, Fourways, 2086."
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