Former African National Congress (ANC) member, Carl Niehaus, said there are plans to forge unity among the various opposition parties ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Talk to The Warga Friday, Niehaus said a decision has not been made on whether or not to turn the Radical Economic Transformation Movement (RET) into a political party.
“We recently, during one of the Twitter rooms, discussed the goals of the movement while still in the process of registering (the movement) as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO).
“This movement has not been officially opened and the only structure we have is a steering committee consisting of six members led by me,” Niehaus.
He said he believed the official launch of the movement would take place after receiving the registration number from the Social Development department.
Niehaus said the steering committee will also be responsible for the logistics of the launch.
Other members who are part of the movement’s steering committee include outspoken ANC MP Mervyn Dirks, former ambassador to Qatar Faizel Moosa, Nkosentsha Shezi from the eThekwini ANC region in KwaZulu Natal as well as SA Truckers Association president Mary Phadi among others.
Niehaus was expelled from the ANC late last year after being charged with six counts of breaching the ruling party’s Constitution.
Also read: Ta-ta, Carl: ANC expelled Niehaus for good
Niehaus said they are in talks with leaders from various political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the African Transformation Movement (ATM), and the ANC.
“We are looking at finding a way to forge more unity with political parties that believe in the ideals of radical transformation,” said Niehaus.
Asked if he received the blessings of some ANC leaders, Niehaus replied:
“There is no secret about those who are close to the ANC and I can confirm that I have spoken to Ace Magashule, Supra Mahumapelo, Jacob Zuma and none of them are negative about the movement because they have always been associated with the ideal of radical transformation. .
“So, yes, I have spoken to other ANC leaders, apart from Cyril Ramaphosa,” Niehaus said.
Niehaus in recent years has been vocal when it comes to Ramaphosa’s leadership, even leading pickets calling for Ramaphosa’s removal.
Also read: Luthuli House march goes ahead but Ramaphosa vows to fight for the soul of the ANC
Is the RET movement targeting Ramaphosa?
“It is no secret that Ramaphosa has to go, and I have not changed my mind about that.
“I have heard some analysts say that this movement is all about trying to undermine Ramaphosa, but what I can say is that if the ANC under the leadership of Ramaphosa does not change the way it is doing, then the country will have to decide how to deal with a party that has betrayed its ideals.
“The ANC does not give expression to the ideals of liberation and this ANC is strange and certainly not the same party that I joined many years ago … so I decided not to appeal my expulsion,” Niehaus added.