Today Mbhazima Shilowa, Gauteng’s former premier, announced his resignation from the ANC and his decision to join Mosiuoa Lekota’s new political formation.
According to The Times, Shilowa will be the convenor-in-chief of the convention that will discuss the formation of the new breakaway party, which is to be held on 2 November.
Ray Hartley, editor of The Times, reveals the values the new party will be standing for in his blog. The list makes for interesting — and hopeful — reading:
1. It will mirror the ANC’s “broad church” approach, attempting to mobilise the full spectrum of society behind shared values;
2. The party’s values will centre on the protection of the constitution, the judiciary and the rule of law;
3. The party will support the direct election of a president who cannot be recalled by a party while in office;
4. The party will support a constituency based system where MPs are directly elected by communities instead of the current system where MPs are decided on by party bosses.
Read The Times article here, and its editor’s post on Shilowa here.
