S.Africa opposition parties to unite against ANC at polls: party source

Jan 28, 2014

South Africa''s main opposition party will unite with a smaller grouping led by charismatic leader Mamphela Ramphele to challenge the ruling ANC in upcoming general elections, a party source told AFP on Tuesday.

South Africa's main opposition party will unite with a smaller grouping led by charismatic leader Mamphela Ramphele to challenge the ruling ANC in upcoming general elections, a party source told AFP on Tuesday.

Ramphele, who leads the Agang party and was the companion of late black consciousness leader Steve Biko, will join the country's leading opposition Democratic Alliance, said a senior source at the DA.

"An agreement has been reached... that Mamphela is joining us," the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that "as I understand it Agang will disband."

South Africa is due to hold general elections later this year, with the exact date as yet undecided.

The agreement will end a political dance that stretched over two years during which Ramphele repeatedly denied she would join the main opposition, which is struggling to shake its image as the party for rich whites.

Ramphele, 65, a former World Bank Managing Director, launched Agang in June last year, but struggled to define a policy and establish a support base.

She was seen Tuesday entering a hotel where the DA is due to make an announcement of developments within the party later in the day.

The union will challenge the ruling African National Congress, the party of late Nelson Mandela, which has dominated South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.

AFP

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