Image: Anthony Molyneaux
Former Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille announced on Sunday that she would be starting a new political party. De Lille broke away from the Democratic Alliance following a protracted legal battle.
She’s not the only politician to give starting a new party a go. South Africa has seen a number of groups break away from bigger parties. Here’s a list of those that have taken place in recent years.
EFF
The Economic Freedom Fighters went from a breakaway party to one of the biggest opposition parties. It was formed in 2013 by former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema after he was axed from the ANC.
Malema has led the EFF with former ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu. The party has 31 members in parliament.
2. COPE
The Congress of the People was formed by ANC leaders Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbhazima Shilowa and Mluleki George.
Lekota, the former premier of the Free State, has been the leader of Cope since 2008. There are only three Cope members in parliament, Lekota, William Madisha and Deidre Carter.
3. NFP
The National Freedom Party, a breakaway from the Inkatha Freedom Party, was formed in 2011 by Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi. Its main support base was in KwaZulu-Natal, with the party’s formation followed by violent clashes between the IFP and NFP in the province.
KaMagwaza-Msibi has been the leader of the NFP since its formation. She is also the deputy minister of science and technology.
She took a break from politics after suffering a stroke in 2014 and returned in 2017.
4. BLF
Black First Land First was founded by former EFF member of parliament Andile Mngxitama in 2015.
The party has launched a campaign to enable it to make its way to parliament. BLF needs R760,000 to register for the 2019 elections. It has raised R160,000.
Image: Simphiwe Nkwali
5. ADEC
The African Democratic Change was established by former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza. Adec was launched in 2017 after Khoza was removed as an MP and left the ruling party.
The party sparked controversy after it revealed its logo, which had similar colours to that of the ANC.
Makhosi resigned from politics five months after starting the party, following factionalism therein.
Adec is currently led by Moses Mayekiso.