Six South African opposition parties to discuss forming alliance to challenge long-ruling ANC

GERALD IMRAY

Six opposition parties announced on Tuesday they will discuss forming an alliance for South Africa’s national election next year in an attempt to end the 30-year hold on power of the African National Congress.

Such an alliance has been proposed previously, under the name “Moonshot Pact” — moonshot can mean a long shot but also something that is a giant leap. But the idea gained more momentum with the announcement that the six parties will hold meetings Aug. 16 and 17 to consider creating a united opposition.

The parties “came to the inescapable conclusion that forming a united opposition pact ahead of the 2024 election offers us the very best chance to unseat the ANC … and form an alternative that will provide a stable new government to rescue South Africa,” John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance, the second biggest party in Parliament after the ANC, said