2024 Elections: Niehaus planning to unite parties in favour of RET ideals

Former member of the African National Congress (ANC), Carl Niehaus, says plans are afoot to forge unity among different opposition parties ahead of the 2024 general election.

Speaking to The Citizen on Sunday, Niehaus said a decision has yet to be made on whether or not to transform the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) Movement into a political party.

Carl Niehaus’ 2024 election plans

Transforming RET Movement

“We recently, during one of the Twitter spaces, discussed the objective of the movement while we are still in the process of registering it (movement) as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO).

“The movement is also yet to be officially launched and the only structure that we have is the steering committee consisting of six members led by myself,” Niehaus.

He said he was confident the official launch of the movement will take place soon as soon as they receive a registration number from the department of Social Development.

Steering committee

Niehaus says the steering committee will also be responsible for the logistics of the launch.

Other members who form part of the movement’s steering committee include outspoken ANC MP Mervyn Dirks, former ambassador to Qatar Faizel Moosa, Nkosentsha Shezi from the ANC’s eThekwini region in KwaZulu Natal as well as SA Truckers Association president Mary Phadi among others.

Niehaus was expelled from the ANC late last year after he was charged with six counts of misconduct for contravening the ruling party’s Constitution.

ALSO READ: Ta-ta, Carl: ANC expels Niehaus for good

‘Forging greater unity’

Niehaus says they are in discussion with leaders from different political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), African Transformation Movement (ATM), and the ANC.

“We are looking at finding ways of forging greater unity with political parties who believe in the ideals of radical transformation,” said Niehaus.

Several ANC members in favour

Asked if he received any blessings from some of the ANC leaders, Niehaus replied:

“It is no secret about the people whom I have been close to in the ANC and I can confirm that I have been speaking to Ace Magashule, Supra Mahumapelo, Jacob Zuma and none of them have expressed negativity about the movement because they have always associated themselves with the ideals of radical transformation.

“So, yes I have been speaking to other ANC leaders, except for Cyril Ramaphosa,” Niehaus said.

Niehaus has in recent years been vocal when it comes to Ramaphosa’s leadership, even leading pickets calling for the removal of Ramaphosa.

ALSO READ: Luthuli House march goes ahead but Ramaphosa vows to fight for the soul of the ANC

Is the RET movement targeting Ramaphosa?

“It is no secret that Ramaphosa has to go, and I have not changed my mind about that.

“I have heard some analysts say this movement is all about trying to destabilise Ramaphosa but what I can say is that if the ANC under the leadership of Ramaphosa doesn’t change the way it’s been doing things, then the nation must decide on how to deal with the party that has betrayed its own ideals.

“The ANC is no longer giving expression to the liberation ideals and this ANC is a strange thing and certainly not the same party that I joined many years ago… hence I decided not to appeal my expulsion,” Niehaus added.