Progressive Caucus (South Africa)

Last updated
Progressive Caucus
AbbreviationPC
Leaders Julius Malema (EFF)
Jacob Zuma (MK)
Vuyolwethu Zungula (ATM)
Wonder Mahlatsi (UAT)
Founded13 June 2024 (2024-06-13)
Ideology Anti-GNU
Political position
Member parties (current) EFF
MK Party
ATM
UAT
Member parties (former) UDM
Al Jama-ah
PAC
National Assembly
100 / 400
National Council of Provinces
11 / 90
Pan-African Parliament
1 / 5
(South African seats)
Provincial Legislatures
111 / 487

The Progressive Caucus is a political alliance in the Parliament of South Africa, which formed in opposition to the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Contents

At its height it comprised seven parties: the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Al Jama-ah, United Democratic Movement (UDM), United Africans Transformation (UAT), African Transformation Movement (ATM), the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), and the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. However, within a matter of days the PAC, UDM, and Al Jama-ah parties would leave Progressive Caucus and join the GNU on 19, [1] 21 [2] and 23 June, [3] 2024 respectively. The Progressive Caucus collectively holds approximately 25% of the seats in the National Assembly.

The MK party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, joined the Progressive Caucus on 17 June after securing 14.6% of the vote and 58 seats in the National Assembly in the 2024 elections. MK's surprising performance solidified its position as the third-largest party in parliament. [4]

Despite initially boycotting the first sitting of the National Assembly over allegations of vote-rigging—which the court dismissed as without merit—MK decided to align with the Progressive Caucus to strengthen the opposition against the GNU. [5] [6] However, the inclusion of the MK does not gain the Progressive Caucus enough seats in the National Assembly to block any law or constitutional amendment due to the GNU's supermajority. [7]

The caucus was formed following the 29 May 2024 elections where the ANC lost its majority for the first time in 30 years. The ANC, which won 40% [8] of the vote, entered a coalition with the DA and other smaller parties to form a GNU. In contrast, the Progressive Caucus aims to provide a fiscally left-leaning alternative to this coalition. [7] The Progressive Caucus is not as unified on social policies with some members advocating right-wing positions such as the reintroduction of the death penalty [9] [10] and the repeal of same-sex marriage laws. [11] [12]

Objectives

The Progressive Caucus seeks to advance radical economic transformation and the policy of land appropriation without compensation. They view the presence of the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) in the GNU as being opposed to these principles, describing it as an alliance rooted in colonialism and apartheid. [5] [ citation needed ]

Recent developments

In June 2024, the Progressive Caucus offered the ANC an opportunity to form a government without the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+). This offer fell through as the ANC proceeded to form a Government of National Unity together with various parties, including the DA and FF+. [13] The UAT rejoined the Progressive Caucus after leaving the government due to frustration over not receiving any ministries.

Challenges

The Progressive Caucus has faced exclusion from significant GNU discussions, [6] leading to calls for a more inclusive and meaningful engagement process with the ANC. The EFF, a leading member of the caucus, has been particularly vocal about this exclusion, emphasising the need for a collaborative approach that respects the contributions of all parties involved. The EFF has refused the possibility that it will join the GNU if the DA or FF+ are included. [14]

Criticism

Some commentators have taken the view that the name Progressive Caucus is a misleading self-designation since the parties forming part of it do not necessarily endorse traditionally progressive policies. For example a legal commentator, writing under a pseudonym, implied that the parties considering themselves part of the caucus are not progressive in nature and wrote that it is "a coalition of populists, ethno-nationalists and other opportunistic rent-seekers". [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Front Plus</span> Political party in South Africa

The Freedom Front Plus is a right-wing political party in South Africa that was formed in 1994. It is led by Pieter Groenewald. Since 2024, it is a part of the current South African government of national unity together with the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance and other parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Assembly of South Africa</span> Lower house of the Parliament of South Africa

The National Assembly is the directly elected house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape. It consists of four hundred members who are elected every five years using a party-list proportional representation system where half of the members are elected proportionally from nine provincial lists and the remaining half from national lists so as to restore proportionality.

The Cabinet of South Africa is the most senior level of the executive branch of the Government of South Africa. It is made up of the president, the deputy president, and the ministers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the African National Congress</span> Aspect of South African political history

The African National Congress (ANC) has been the governing party of the Republic of South Africa since 1994. The ANC was founded on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein and is the oldest liberation movement in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Jama-ah</span> Political party in South Africa

Al Jama-ah is a South African political party. It was formed in 2007 by present leader Ganief Hendricks and contested the 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 national elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Steenhuisen</span> South African politician (born 1976) and Minister of Agriculture

John Henry Steenhuisen is a South African politician who is currently serving as Minister of Agriculture since June 2024. He has been the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) since November 2020, having served as the interim leader for one year from November 2019. He served as the twentieth leader of the Opposition from October 2019 to June 2024. Pursuant to the 2024 South African general election, he was appointed to the third cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa when the DA joined the Government of National Unity (GNU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Giyani Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in Limpopo, South Africa

Greater Giyani Municipality is a local municipality within the Mopani District Municipality, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The seat is Giyani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Newcastle Municipality is a local municipality within the Amajuba District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South African general election</span>

General elections were held in South Africa on 7 May 2014, to elect a new National Assembly and new provincial legislatures in each province. It was the fifth election held in South Africa under conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994, and also the first held since the death of Nelson Mandela. It was also the first time that South African expatriates were allowed to vote in a South African national election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 South African general election</span>

General elections were held in South Africa on 8 May 2019 to elect a new President, National Assembly and provincial legislatures in each province. These were the sixth elections held since the end of apartheid in 1994 and determined who would become the next President of South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political parties that contested the 2019 South African general election</span> Parties that contested the 2019 South African general election

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced on 20 March 2019 that a record number of 48 parties had registered candidates for the national parliamentary election. This is 19 more parties that contested the 2014 national elections. In the provincial legislature elections, the total number of parties registering candidates were:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 South African municipal elections</span> South African municipal elections which were held on 1 November 2021

The 2021 South African Municipal Elections were held on 1 November 2021, to elect councils for all district, metropolitan and local municipalities in each of the country's nine provinces. Being the 6th municipal election held in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. These held - since then -every five years. The previous municipal elections were held in 2016. On 21 April 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the elections to be held on Wednesday, 27 October 2021. It had been recommend by Dikgang Moseneke to delay the municipal elections until 2022. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) requested the Constitutional Court to support the date postponement. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supported the date postponement while the Democratic Alliance (DA) was against the postponement of the date. The Constitutional Court dismissed the application to postpone the date until 2022, ruling that they had to take place between 27 October and 1 November. On 9 September 2021, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that the elections would be held on 1 November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 South African general election</span> Election

General elections were held in South Africa on 29 May 2024 to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of the nine provinces. This was the 7th general election held under the conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of the apartheid era in 1994. The new National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will be elected at the first sitting of each provincial legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganief Hendricks</span> South African politician (born 1949)

Mogamad Ganief Ebrahim Hendricks is a South African politician, businessman, lecturer and teacher who is a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa. He became an MP on 22 May 2019. He is the founder and current leader of Al Jama-ah, a party for upholding Muslim interests in South Africa. Hendricks was previously a City of Cape Town municipal councillor. Since 3 July 2024, he serves as Deputy Minister of Social Development of South Africa.

The Committee for Section 194 Enquiry is an ad hoc committee of the National Assembly of South Africa that was established on 7 April 2021 to determine if there are grounds for the removal of Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector.

Kabelo Gwamanda is a South African politician who was the mayor of Johannesburg from May 2023 until August 2024. A member of the Al Jama-ah party, he is the ninth executive mayor of the metropolitan municipality since 2016.

The Multi-Party Charter (MPC), officially the Multi-Party Charter For South Africa (MPCSA), formerly known as the Moonshot Pact, was a pre-election agreement in South Africa that presented a united front in the 2024 South African general election against the three-decade rule of the African National Congress (ANC) and the recent rise of the controversial Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), uMkhonto we Sizwe and Patriotic Alliance (PA). After the general election, the alliance joined the ANC-DA lead Grand national unity coalition government except African Christian Democratic Party and Action SA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Africans Transformation</span> Political party in South Africa

The United Africans Transformation (UAT) is a minor political party in South Africa. It was founded in November 2022 by a group of individuals who broke away from the African National Congress (ANC). The UATP is centered around Africanism, pan-Africanism, and socialism. On 30 June 2024 president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the UAT joined the government of national unity (GNU), having signed the GNU statement of intent. On 12 July 2024 the UAT withdrew from the GNU after it did not receive any positions in the Cabinet.

The 2024 KwaZulu-Natal provincial election was held on 29 May 2024, concurrently with the 2024 South African general election, to elect the 80 members of the 7th KwaZulu-Natal Legislature. The new MK party flipped KwaZulu Natal from the ANC, earning 37 out of 80 seats to gain a plurality. Conversely, the ANC itself plummeted to the third place, losing its majority in the legislature for the first time since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa</span> Third cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa

The Third Cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa, also referred to as the Government of National Unity (GNU), was formed following the election of Ramaphosa to a second full term as President of South Africa following the 2024 general election. His party, the African National Congress (ANC), lost its absolute majority in the parliamentary election and was reduced to a plurality in the National Assembly. Following the election, the parties engaged in negotiations on forming a coalition government. On 14 June 2024, the ANC, the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA) and Good, agreed to form a landmark national unity government, with Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected President of South Africa. This marks the first time the ANC has had to govern without an absolute majority since the end of apartheid in 1994.

References

  1. ↑ "PAC latest party to join GNU promises to scrutinise ANC/DA decisions". Archived from the original on 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  2. ↑ "UDM becomes the latest party to join ANC-led GNU". Archived from the original on 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  3. ↑ Africa, AlgoaFM South. "GNU now comprises ten political parties". AlogaFM. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  4. ↑ Gerber, Sakhiseni Nxumalo and Jan. "COALITION NATION | MK Party to join EFF, ATM and others in Progressive Caucus". News24. Archived from the original on 2024-06-21. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  5. 1 2 "Ex-leader Zuma's party says it will join opposition in South Africa's parliament". WSAU News/Talk 550 AM · 99.9 FM | Wausau, Stevens Point. Thomson Reuters . Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  6. 1 2 Patel, Faizel (2024-06-14). "Progressive Caucus led by EFF want urgent meeting with ANC over GNU". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  7. 1 2 "Government of National Unity now has a supermajority in South Africa – BusinessTech". Archived from the original on 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  8. ↑ "NPE Results Dashboard 2024". results.elections.org.za.
  9. ↑ "MK Party wants referendum on death penalty". Archived from the original on 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  10. ↑ Gerber, Jan. "Patriotic Alliance, ATM want the death penalty. Research shows it isn't an effective crime deterrent". News24. Archived from the original on 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  11. ↑ "Jacob Zuma campaigns on ticket using race, land, same-sex laws as flashpoints". Archived from the original on 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  12. ↑ Lagardien, Ismail (November 19, 2020). "Al Jama-ah: The small Islamic political party with a narrow vision and big ambitions". Daily Maverick.
  13. ↑ Goba, Thabiso. "Progressive Caucus offers ANC chance to form govt without DA, FF+". EWN. Archived from the original on 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  14. ↑ Seeletsa, Molefe (29 June 2024). "'As long as DA, FF Plus aren't included': EFF urges ANC to abandon GNU, join forces". The Citizen.
  15. ↑ Professor Balthazar (25 July 2024). "Using law to destroy law, and ultimately our constitutional system". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.