S Africa’s Democratic Alliance and Independent Democrats merge

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s largest opposition party said on Saturday it would merge with a small party to better challenge the ruling African National Congress in the 2014 election.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the small Independent Democrats (ID) said they hoped their new alliance would capitalise on growing frustrations with the ANC over crime and the provision of education, health care and electricity.’This event today must merely be seen as the first step in the important task of consolidating the opposition and offering voters a true alternative government,’ said ID leader Patricia de Lille.Since taking office in May last year, President Jacob Zuma has had to steer the country through its first recession in 17 years and deal with township protests over slow delivery of services as well as a series of strikes staged by union allies.DA leader Helen Zille said: ‘We’ve realised that the ruling party has become increasingly corrupt and is abusing the constitution.’The DA, drawing much of its support from the region around Cape Town, received nearly 17 per cent of the vote in the last election nationally, placing second behind the ANC which won overwhelmingly with 66 per cent. The ID won less than 1 per cent. – Nampa-Reuters

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