Former South African president Jacob Zuma, a supporter of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, has revealed a plan to merge the Eastern Cape (EC) and Western Cape (WC) provinces into one to prevent the Democratic Alliance (DA) from governing indefinitely in the Western Cape.
Zuma made this proposal during an MK gathering in KwaZulu-Natal, which was captured in a video that has since been circulating on social media.
Zuma emphasized the need to restructure the country to secure a significant majority. He suggested reverting to the four-province system of the past, merging the Eastern Cape and Western Cape to form a new Cape province.
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According to Zuma, this consolidation would give the MK party the majority needed to prevent the DA from continuing to rule in the Western Cape. The Democratic Alliance took control of the Western Cape from the African National Congress (ANC) in 2009 and has maintained its governance ever since.
The Western Cape currently boasts the highest employment rate among all provinces, with an unemployment figure of 20.2%, the lowest in the country. These statistics are based on the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released by Statistics South Africa in November 2023.
Furthermore, the Western Cape leads the country in terms of clean audits in municipalities. Out of the 38 municipalities that achieved clean audits, 28 are located in the Western Cape, as reported by the Auditor General. It is important to note that there are a total of 257 municipalities in South Africa.
Zuma’s proposal to merge the Eastern Cape and Western Cape has sparked debates and discussions among political analysts and citizens alike. Supporters of the MK party argue that this merger would create a stronger opposition against the DA, ultimately leading to a more balanced political landscape in the Western Cape.
They believe that the consolidation of resources and efforts would enable the MK party to challenge the DA’s governance effectively. However, critics of the proposal raise concerns about the potential implications of such a merger.
"There were 4 provinces in South Africa, but now there are 9, and foreigners want to claim one of them as their own." Former President Jacob Zuma
“MK Party Must win with a Majority Vote in order to reduce South Africans provinces to 4, So that Western Cape and Eastern Cape can… pic.twitter.com/HpgPrpcTVh
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) January 14, 2024
They argue that merging two provinces with distinct cultural, economic, and social characteristics could lead to administrative challenges and a lack of representation for local communities.
Additionally, opponents question the true intentions behind Zuma’s proposal, suggesting that it may be driven more by political motives than the welfare of the people.
It is important to note that any decision regarding the merger of provinces would require a constitutional amendment and thorough consideration of the potential benefits and drawbacks.
The ultimate goal should be to ensure effective governance and representation for all citizens, regardless of political affiliations.
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