Q&A with Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie

So you want to join the pact and will dump the ANC to show your commitment?

 That’s not what I’m saying. I was approached to join ...

I thought you weren’t invited?

I wasn’t invited, but when they came to me ...

Who?

Herman Mashaba and Corné Mulder. They asked: “Are you willing to join the pact?” And I said yes.

What are your conditions?

That the DA and every party should sign that they will not work with the ANC.

Haven’t you demonstrated that you’re the only party likely to do that when it suits you?

We are the only party that said at the beginning we’re willing to work with anyone including the AWB.

Is this because you’re the only party with no principles?

It’s not about no principles, it’s about power sharing.

In other words, what’s in it for you?

No, I’m not there for myself, I’m there for the people who voted me into power for jobs. You can’t do anything for your people in opposition, so we want to be in power.

Don’t they vote for you because they want to get rid of the ANC?

I agree with you. But going into a power-sharing agreement is not like marrying a person until death do us part.

Is it going to do the pact any good if you dump them when it suits you?

We can sign and agree that this is not what we’re going to do.

You’ve never been good at commitment, have you?

If you call me being “ja baas, nee baas” commitment then I’m not good at commitment. But the Oxford Dictionary says commitment is when you keep your word, and that for me is commitment. But I can’t be controlled by Helen Zille and (John) Steenhuisen. They want to sit on your head. That’s what they call commitment. 

What’s the attraction of the pact for you?

That the ANC has had 30 years to change this country and they’ve failed miserably. Nothing’s working, we need a new start, and if the pact is going to offer that then I will join. But I’m not saying: “Please let me in.” They need me, and I’m willing to come in.

You’re not going to do the pact much good if you hand power to the ANC when it suits you, like in Joburg.

That’s DA propaganda, ask Mashaba, ask Mulder.

How can a pact work when there’s so much distrust for the majority party?

All of us, including myself, must put our egos and our anger and our past accusations against each other on the back burner.

What’s your message to those who want to be sure you won’t make another deal with the ANC if the offer’s right?

Let us as leaders say publicly these are the principles we’ve committed to ...

Haven’t you been open about the fact that you don’t have principles?

I’ve never said I don’t have principles.

What will you demand from the pact if you find yourself the kingmaker party after the elections?

That they treat us fairly.