On Inauguration Day, Mandela’s Grandson Demands Protests Against the ANC’s Coalition With the DA

Citing a breach of the values of the Freedom Charter, Mayibuye Mandela has called for South Africans to resist the ANC’s collaboration with the DA.

The grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela, has strongly urged South Africans to demonstrate against the ANC’s intention to unite with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus to form a Government of National Unity (GNU).

Mandela criticized the partnership as a violation of the ANC’s core values and the confidence of the public in an open letter to the people of South Africa.

On June 19, 2024, the day of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, Mandela called on South Africans to peacefully picket outside the Union Buildings, using the Freedom Charter’s “The people shall govern” as justification.

“It’s time we made our views heard if South Africans are dissatisfied with the ANC’s plan to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA and the Freedom Front Plus. In order to demonstrate that South Africans do not agree with the ANC’s decision, he stated, “We must peacefully picket outside the Union Buildings and take to the streets with placards showing our dissatisfaction.”

Mandela chastised the ANC for forsaking a revolutionary route that would have involved forming coalitions with groups other than the DA and Freedom Front Plus, such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM).

“The ANC was voted out for failing to adhere to this vision,” the statement said. It has chosen a course that, in our opinion, further sells out the people rather than forming a revolutionary administration with the EFF, UDM, ATM, MK Party, and other like-minded parties to bring about genuine change. Social media posts by themselves won’t bring about the necessary change, so we must act.

“As a reminder, before the elections, the Democratic Alliance (DA) released an advertisement that was deeply disturbing and evoked a demonic sentiment,” he remarked, highlighting the DA’s contentious pre-election advertisement. Traditionally, burning a flag has been understood to mean declaring war on the people it represents or who identify with it. It is extremely concerning that the DA used such imagery in this context, implying a declaration of war on the majority of South Africans.

Then, claiming that the coalition’s policies do not advance the interests of the majority, Mandela urged South Africans of all races to band together in opposition to the GNU. “I call for a nonviolent picket at the Union Buildings. Let us, the younger generation, fight for our country so that the coming generations won’t judge us for our inaction.” It’s time to demonstrate our demand for better for our nation by taking this to the streets.