United Africans Transformation | |
---|---|
![]() | |
President | Wonder Mahlatsi |
Founded | November 2022 |
Split from | ANC |
Ideology | |
Political position | Left-wing |
National affiliation | Progressive Caucus |
National Assembly seats | 1 / 400 |
Provincial Legislatures | 1 / 487 |
Website | |
www | |
The United Africans Transformation (UAT) is a minor political party in South Africa. [1] It was founded in November 2022 by a group of individuals who broke away from the African National Congress (ANC). [2] The UATP is centered around Africanism, pan-Africanism, and socialism. [1] [2] 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. [3] [4] On 12 July 2024 the UAT withdrew from the GNU after it did not receive any positions in the Cabinet. [5]
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, Gauteng province. [6] [7] The UATP 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]
In June 2024, president Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the UAT had joined the Government of National Unity (GNU), [3] which was formed in the wake of the ANC losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years. [8] The GNU aimed to include various political parties to ensure stable government where no party had an absolute majority. [9]
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. [10]
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. [10]
The UATP 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 UATP has not articulated a clear foreign policy but has expressed support for African unity and solidarity with other African nations. [1] The UATP's ideology is centered around Africanism, pan-Africanism, and socialism. Its policies focus on economic empowerment, land reform, and social justice. [11] [12] [13]
The UATP 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]
Election | Party leader | Total votes | Share of vote | Seats | +/– | Government |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Wonder Mahlatsi | 35,679 | 0.22% [lower-alpha 1] | 1 / 400 | New | Opposition |
Election | Total # of seats won | +/– | Government |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Election [14] | 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 |
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