South Africa's poor to tackle ANC

By Nick Miles
BBC News, Cape Town

Official statistics put unemployment at 26.2%, other studies at 40%

More than 70 religious and civic groups in South Africa have formed a coalition to challenge the ANC government's economic policies.

The group called the Western Province Coalition for Jobs and Against Poverty has been organised by the country's main trade union body, Cosatu.

The launch comes after several months of strikes and protests.

Groups across the country have been taking action on economic issues.

Growing dissatisfaction

The atmosphere at Cape Town's city hall, where the meeting took place, was a heady mix of rebellion and defiance.

Left wing political pressure groups, HIV/Aids campaigners and church representatives all came together to join the coalition.

The wealthy have benefited tremendously from the policy choices that the ANC has made Tony Ehrenreich, Cosatu secretary South Africa's poor losing patience

The red banners outlined their aims: a minimum state benefit for all, increased spending on health, transport and education and a greater emphasis on public services.

Cosatu's Mike Lowe said there was a great deal of dissatisfaction with the ANC's policies.

"Since coming to power the ANC has pursued a largely free market agenda of privatisations and policies that have reduced inflation, but it's come at a price. Unemployment stands at at least 28%, unfairly skewed against the black population," Mr Lowe said.

"The country's wealth still lies in white and a few black hands. The inauguration of a possible alternative to the ANC reflects growing impatience amongst the mostly black urban and rural poor who feel they've not benefited over the last 11 years," he added.

Political threat?

Since the first multi-racial elections in 1994, the ANC government has managed to hold together a disparate range of interest groups in a three-way alliance with the union group in Cosatu and the South African Communist Party.

But fractures within the grouping have been growing.

A one-day national strike in June highlighted those concerns and across the country protesters have burnt tyres in street demonstrations complaining about living conditions.

With that volatile context, the main question being asked about this new coalition is whether it is going to become a political party that will challenge the ANC.

At the moment the answer seems to be no, according to Tony Ehrenreich, the Cosatu secretary for the western Cape province.

"The wealthy have benefited tremendously from the policy choices that the ANC has made, both the historical white wealthy South African, but also the new emerging black super wealthy groups," says Mr Ehrenreich.

"There are going to be those tensions forever, but what happens is that there are many areas which we do agree on with the ANC and so our alliance with them will continue as one of the most progressive political parties in the country."

So, if the new coalition does not mean a political challenge, it certainly does represent a shot across the bows for the ANC, a warning that the political left is restless and needs to be heard.