United Africans Transformation

United Africans Transformation
Leader	Dr Lehlohonolo Wonderboy Mahlatsi
President	Dr Lehlohonolo Wonderboy Mahlatsi
Founded	November 2022
Split from	NA
Ideology	Pan-Africanism Socialism
Political position	Left-wing
National affiliation	Progressive Caucus
National Assembly seats	1 / 400
Provincial Legislatures	1 / 487
Website
www.uat2023.org
Politics of South Africa Political parties Elections

The United Africans Transformation (UAT) is a new political party in South Africa. ^[1] It was founded in November 2022 by a group of individuals who ascribed to Pan-African values, Ubuntu Principles, and Radical Economic Transformation ^[2] The UAT manifesto is centered around Land Expropriation without compensation. ^{[1] [2]} Following the 2024 South African general election, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the UAT had joined the government of national unity (GNU). The UAT President Dr Lehlohonolo Wonderboy Mahlatsi (Bantu) refuted claims regarding the inclusion of the UAT in the GNU.

History

Formation

The party was founded by Wonder Mahlatsi, a former African National Congress (ANC) member and businessman. The party was launched in November 2022 in Johannesburg. ^{[3] [4]} The UAT has been criticized for its lack of clear policies and its perceived opportunism in breaking away from the ANC. Some have also questioned the leadership style and the party's lack of transparency in its finances and decision-making processes. ^{[1] [2]}

Participation in Government of National Unity

In June 2024, president Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the UAT had joined the Government of National Unity (GNU), ^[5] which was formed in the wake of the ANC losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years. ^[6] The GNU aimed to include various political parties to ensure stable government where no party had an absolute majority. ^[7]

In July 2024, Mahlatsi remarked, "it took us by surprise to hear the President of the Republic announcing that the UAT is part of GNU," implying that formalities for it joining the GNU had not been concluded by the time the president announced that it had joined. ^[8]

In the same statement, Mahlatsi announced the UAT's withdrawal from the GNU due to allegations of exclusion from critical decision-making processes and bad faith negotiations, after it did not get any ministerial posts or chairperson positions in parliamentary committee portfolios. He expressed disappointment with the ANC, emphasizing the need for fair and inclusive coalition governance. ^[8]

Current structure and composition

UAT has a central committee led by Mahlatsi as the president, with a secretary-general and other office bearers. The party has a small presence in a few provinces, with most of its support coming from the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The UAT has not articulated a clear foreign policy but has expressed support for African unity and solidarity with other African nations. ^[1] The UAT's ideology is centered around Africanism, pan-Africanism, and socialism. Its policies focus on economic empowerment, land reform, and social justice. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

Election results

The UAT has contested local government elections in 2019 and national elections in 2024. In the 2024 General Election, the party won 1 seat in the National Assembly and 1 seat in the Limpopo Provincial Legislature. ^{[1] [2]}

National Assembly elections

Election	Party leader	Total votes	Share of vote	Seats	+/–	Government
2024	Wonder Mahlatsi	35,679	0.22% [a]	1 / 400	New	Opposition

1. From 2024, seats in the National Assembly are determined by a combination of the national ballot, and the nine regional ballots. Only the national ballot figures are shown here.

National Council of Provinces

Election	Total # of seats won	+/–	Government
2024	0	0	0

Provincial elections

Election [12]	Eastern Cape		Free State		Gauteng		Kwazulu-Natal		Limpopo		Mpumalanga		North-West		Northern Cape		Western Cape
	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats	%	Seats
2024			0.17	0/30	0.23	1/80			0.82	1/64	0.48	0/51	0.54	0/38

References

1. "'We are the new political home for all South Africans' – fledgling political party UAT says service delivery is its apex priority". 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
2. Dube, Aaron. "This party wants to unite Africans". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
3. "Election manifesto resonates with our needs, aspirations: Supporters - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
4. leratoserero (2024-02-22). "UAT promises service delivery". Sedibeng Ster. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
5. "Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the appointment of members of the national executive". 30 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
6. "All about Friday's deadline for South Africa to form a coalition and elect a president". Africanews. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
7. "South African parties form unity government as presidential deadline looms". Africanews. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
8. "UAT withdraws from GNU after not getting positions". Daily Maverick. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
9. "UAT promises land expropriation without compensation - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader". 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
10. Tlhoaele, Kgalalelo. "Tau roars with new political party". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
11. https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/stares-as-faithful-members-of-the-united-africans-transformation-picket-outside-palm-ridge-court-7b67f766-1975-4923-889d-9493aa907e4f
12. "NPE Results Dashboard 2024". results.elections.org.za. Retrieved 2024-06-14.