The political fray is full of surprises
JOBURG - As the race to the polls gains momentum, voters begin to see and hear more from the country’s political parties.
However, while most South Africans are familiar with the policies of the popular front runners, a few new parties have emerged, adding a unique mix to the political pool.
Although not all of these parties are registered and contesting in the 2014 elections, many have gained strong support based on their political agendas.
One of the most well-known of these parties is the Dagga Party of South Africa.
The party was formed by users of the cannabis plant, or marijuana, who aimed to form a party that propagates for the legalisation of dagga.
Led by Jeremy Acton, the party puts forth policies that highlight some of the benefits of legalising marijuana.
The Front Nasionaal (Front National), another new political party, has been launched from within the ranks of Afrikaner activists.
The party, strongly focused on Afrikaner self-determination, aims to preserve Afrikaans schools and transfer Afrikaans universities and all Afrikaans libraries, monuments, museums, art collections and cultural goods to a council determined by the party and other Afrikaner organisations.
Led by Hannes Engelbrecht, the party was also campaigning against language discrimination and so-called ‘ethnic’ farm murders.
This election would also welcome the world’s first gay political party.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate and South African archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu, surprised many South Africans by forming the Democratic Religious Alliance Against Minority Antagonism (DRAAMA).
Spurred by his passion for gay and minority rights, Tutu formed the party, which is set to be at the forefront of minority human-rights issues.
Outraging many Christians by his comments, Tutu said, “I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven… No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to hell… I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.”
Meanwhile, popular political figures have lunged in new directions in their careers.
Scorned former ANC Youth League President Julius Malema was quick to get back in the political saddle after his expulsion from the ruling party in 2012.
Malema launched the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in October last year.
While the party maintains growing support and flexed its political muscle, committing to “transforming South Africa for the betterment of all”, the EFF’s strides have often been overshadowed by Malema’s personal antics and his unpredictability.
In February, Malema was placed under provisional sequestration by the Pretoria High Court for his unpaid R16-million tax bill.
In the same month, he was in court following charges of reckless driving.
Despite being acquitted, Malema’s woes were far from over as traffic officials planned to appeal the ruling.
Businessman and socialite Kenny Kunene has traded his sushi parties for a political party.
Meanwhile, Kunene launched the Patriotic Alliance political party in 2013 with former jail mate and convicted bank robber, Gayton McKenzie.
The party has reportedly welcomed some prominent gangsters into its ranks.
Kunune has been affiliated with several parties and went from being an ANC member, to head of campaigns, mobilisation and special projects for Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters, to starting his own party.
In total, 195 parties have registered for the general elections and 48 parties are registered provincially.
But numerous unregistered parties continue to assert their agendas.
