There is pushback among the Multi Party Charter members to the names proposed as possible presidential candidates for the charter in next year’s general elections.
Insiders say the leaders of the opposition parties have not agreed on who should be the face of the campaign and are suspicious of the candidates whose names have been bandied about.
The Sunday Times has learnt that while there is a group of funders backing former FirstRand chair Roger Jardine to become a presidential candidate, other lobbyists have approached several other prominent South Africans to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa next year.
Insiders said some lobbyists have suggested former public protector Thuli Madonsela, former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi.
The MPC has already agreed that the biggest party in the coalition would get the deputy president position, which makes DA leader John Steenhuisen the most likely candidate should the opposition win.
Insiders say most of the leaders of the charter believe they should choose a candidate among themselves. The criteria include that the candidate should be a black African, have a good reputation and enjoy the support of the majority.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald has already proposed IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa. Also part of the charter is ActionSA president Herman Mashaba.
But it is believed that donors prefer candidates who are not part of the MPC.
The criteria include that the candidate should be a black African, have a good reputation and enjoy the support of the majority
Madonsela told the Sunday Times she has not been “formally” approached.
“I am on record as stating that I am not available as a presidential candidate as my mission in life, as I understand it, is not in that space,” she said.
Jonas too said he has not been requested by “any political funders” about making himself available for the job. “However, my view on such matters is that it is in bad taste and in a way undermines voters to attempt to arrange electoral outcomes by fronting candidates and discussing coalitions before the election campaigns even start.
“My concern is the lack of focus on big issues and the fact that the political system as a whole is unable to contend with the multiple crises in the country.
“I have been saying for a while that the 2024 election, even with new players, does not in itself deal with the massive political, economic and social problems. In fact, it might actually push us closer to the edge. Therefore, I believe a bigger conversation is needed to reset the national agenda for us to walk a new path. That alone discounts me from having any involvement in the current political games.”
Zibi said his party has been approached to be part of the MPC. “We have said no at this stage,” he said. He said this does not mean that his party is not interested in forming part of a coalition government after the elections. Zibi said his party would prefer to campaign independently from the MPC, which “is a DA intellectual project”.
“The moonshot pact was an idea tabled at a DA congress. It is going to be impossible for us to convince our supporters to trust us when we are part of a DA intellectual project,” he said. “We are not saying we are not willing to go into a coalition with other parties in case South Africans don’t choose the ANC.”
Steenhuisen and Mashaba denied that the MPC is shopping for a presidential candidate.
“There is no truth to any of this. [Neither] the MPC nor I have had discussions with any of these individuals. Rise Mzansi were sent an invitation, along with a variety of political parties, to join the charter but they have so far chosen not to participate,” said Steenhuisen.
Mashaba told the Sunday Times that the MPC has not mandated anyone to approach possible presidential candidates.
“If any member of the MPC approached the people quoted in your query, they did this on behalf of their parties, not the MPC, of which ActionSA is part.
“This being news at ActionSA, the question of what value these people will be to the MPC must be directed to the party that approached them. ActionSA recruits people who can add value to our party, believe in our policies and are willing to serve our country.
“We don't engage anyone on behalf of the MPC. We are not in the business of running experiments. ActionSA unequivocally distances itself from these latest developments,” he said.
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