SOUTH Africa's former white-minority ruling National Party, dissolved three years ago, has re-registered with the electoral commission ahead of general elections next year, a party spokesman said Monday.
The party which imposed apartheid on South Africa, before leader FW de Klerk engineered the end of the racially exclusive government, suffered a protracted demise under his successor in the guise of the New National Party.
However the NP has regrouped ahead of elections expected in April next year as "a modern and inclusive party that steers away from race politics."
Spokesman Jean Duval-Uys told AFP Monday the party had engaged previous members and supporters of the old NP, including De Klerk, who did not mind the party being revived although he would not take part.
The NNP lost its last lawmaker in parliament after chief Marthinus Van Schalkwyk dissolved the party in 2005 to join the ruling ANC cabinet of President Thabo Mbeki.
Once a symbol of segregated South Africa, the end of the NNP was described by Mbeki as an "unavoidable decision that the time had come to lay the ghost of the party to rest".
Van Schalkwyk's decision left a gap in opposition politics that the reconstituted NP hopes to fill at a time when voters are increasingly disenchanted with the ANC.
"We are trying to restore that balance to have a real strong opposition for the ANC," said Duval-Uys.
South African political support is heavily skewed in favour of the ruling ANC which achieved a 70 percent majority in the 2004 election, followed by the Democratic Alliance with a mere 12 percent.
Duval-Uys said the party would be run by a collective, to avoid a white or black face setting the tone, and is looking at eventually having four ceremonial leaders of different races.
The party will field 175 candidates in the upcoming election and will be officially re-launched on November 23.
AFP
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Omuhle • n/a Subject: n/a Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:16:03 • Kaycee, you missed my point all together. My argument is we preach democracy, not morals. Democracy is the will of the people. They are given a choice and the majorit decision holds sway. I don't support the BNP, not particularly because of my skin colour but their policies don't cater for me at all. However, should we ban them? Should we refuse them a political slot on the BBC? That is playing big brother. The secret is to have an open system and let the voters decide. This is when you see how vital it is to have an educated electorate, not just voting because you've reached the age of majority. So, sorry but I know the BNP well enough. My point is in every society there are left wing and right wing politics. We shouldn't marginalise them because that is not democracy. Whilst we have this over-riding fear of them taking power, we place our hope in the numbers we have who are educated enough to see through their racist roadcasts and never give them a foothold. The first time I came to the UK a good friend of mine sat me down and explained the necessity of voting. He introduced me to the BNP and I saw how easy it is for them to come to power if people ignore their right to vote. There are more liberal minded and racially tolerant people out there and the BNP and National Party will never take a foothold so long we recognise their threat, give them a slot to campaign and leave the education the people have to keep them at bay. We can't have a situation where they are marginalised, cry foul and then appeal to some natural event or latch onto some chain of events for their purposes. Like rallying people by using stats to show crime is committed by minorities from Somalia and if voters support them then these minorities will be stopped from entering. Obviously the crime is something voters are concerned about but if they are not educated enough to see the other policies and only vote BNP as a protest then that means trouble. So which is more difficult to do? Ignoring the rules of democracy and barring racists from the system or letting them in and educating voters to their policies? Jury's out....
kayceedunn • n/a Subject: omuhle Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:37:21 • omuhle,you are a proper caveman,what do you know about the BNP,you watch too much BBC,if you dont know pliz let us know we will kindly put you in class.these white supremists put their race first and not you,if you didnt know,the boers want power ,they dont want to assimilate like you,they are afraid that one day the black south afrikan is going to demand his land too when he wises up.we need marcus garvey to be taught in school as a subject coz my people are going astray.
Omuhle • n/a Subject: n/a Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:36:53 • There is nothing racist about this. The party hopes togive people an alternative voice, not to bring back apartheid policies. That is the beauty of politics. Let the people decide. In the UK we have the BNP which is given as much time on public boradcasts as the major parties but what they do with that time, in trying to woo voters is up to them and is within the laws of the land. They cannot swear or incite violence or insult different races. Their racism just comes out in their manifestos and policies and then the people decied.
So let the NP register and don't be shocked if the majority of whites vote for it, notbecause they are racist and want the return of apartheid but because they fell left out in an ANC govt. This should be the wake up call to the ANC and indeed to all pan-African parties that rule because they think their liberation struggle gives them an endless mandate and they can do no wrong.
The warning shots were sounded in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Take heed or be left behind.
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