Agang South Africa

Agang South Africa
English name Build South Africa
President Mike Tshishonga (acting)[1]
Chairperson Mike Tshishonga
Secretary-General Sam Njela
Spokesperson John McConnacchie
Founded 18 February 2013 (2013-02-18)
Headquarters PO Box 31817, Braamfontein, 2017
Ideology Anti-corruption politics
Progressivism
Political position Centre-left
Colours Green
Slogan Restoring the Promise of Freedom
National Assembly seats
2 / 400
Website
agangsa.org.za

Agang South Africa is a South African political party, formed by anti-apartheid activist Mamphela Ramphele on 18 February 2013,[2][3] although the party claims on its website that it was founded on 22 June 2013,[4] which was the date of the party's first official congress.[5][6][7]

The party encourages reforms towards direct governance, striving to "build a stronger democracy in which citizens will be at the centre of public life";[8] and intends to challenge the governing African National Congress in the 2014 general election.[9] Agang is a Sotho–Tswana word meaning "let us build".[10]

History

On 28 January 2014, the Democratic Alliance (DA) announced that Ramphele had accepted an invitation to stand as its presidential candidate in the 2014 general election,[11][12][13] and the DA and Agang were set to merge.[14][15] On 31 January 2014, Ramphele stated that she would not take up DA party membership and would remain the leader of Agang, resulting in confusion.[16] On 2 February 2014, Helen Zille stated that Ramphele had reneged on her agreement to stand as the DA's presidential candidate.[17] Ramphele subsequently apologised for the reversal of her decision, saying that the timing was not right as the reaction to it had shown people were unable to overcome race-based party politics.[18] On 9 February 2014, following statements by Helen Zille that donor funding issues were behind the failed merger, Ramphele named business magnate Nathan Kirsh as a funder of Agang and said he would continue to fund the new party.[19][20]

In the 2014 election, the party received 52,350 votes, or 0.28% of the total, and won two seats in the National Assembly of South Africa.[21] Following internal conflict within the party, Ramphele announced her withdrawal from politics on 8 July 2014.[1][22]

Ideology and formation

The following aims are listed on the party's website:[23]

Leadership team

Agang SA national leadership team as announced at the launch of the party’s manifesto in Atteridgeville, outside Pretoria on 8 March 2014.

Agang SA's logo from time of founding until adoption of current logo

Election results

National Assembly

Election Total votes Share of vote Seats +/– Government
2014[24] 52,350 0.28%
2 / 400
in opposition

Provincial elections

Election Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng Kwazulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga North-West Northern Cape Western Cape
% Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats % Seats
2014[24] 0.11% 0/63 0.20% 0/30 0.42% 0/73 0.36% 0/49 0.13% 0/30 0.44% 0/33 0.30% 0/42

Municipal elections

Election Votes %
2016[25] 5,493 0.01%

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ndenze, Babalo (9 July 2014). "No tears as Ramphele quits party". Cape Times. SAPA. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. Agang South Africa: Video: Mamphele Ramphele announces launch of Agang, 18 February 2013 Archived February 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-06. Retrieved 2014-05-06.
  6. The Citizen (21 June 2013). "Agang SA to launch political party". thecitizen.co.za.
  7. BBC (22 June 2013). "South African new party Agang to challenge ANC". bbc.co.uk.
  8. Agang South Africa | About Agang
  9. Anti-Apartheid Leader Launches New Party in South Africa
  10. Smith, David (18 February 2013). "Mamphela Ramphele launches challenge to South Africa's ANC". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  11. "Ramphele is joining us – DA source". IOL. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  12. "Ramphele: This is an astonishing moment for SA". News24. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  13. "Ramphele announced as DA presidential candidate". Mail & Guardian. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  14. Davis, Rebecca (28 January 2014). "DA-Agang: Dial M for Merger". IOL. Retrieved 29 January 2014. Zille said that the two parties were establishing a 'joint technical committee to manage the integration of the DA and Agang SA structures and volunteers'.
  15. Ensor, Linda (28 January 2014). "Mamphela Ramphele joins DA as presidential candidate". Business Day. Retrieved 29 January 2014. Dr Ramphele said she believed the merger was a historic moment
  16. Ramphele, Mamphela (31 January 2014). "I won't be accepting DA membership on Monday". Politicsweb. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  17. Zille, Helen (2 February 2014). "Mamphela Ramphele has reneged on our agreement". Politicsweb. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  18. "Ramphele says she made the right decision with DA candidacy". Times LIVE. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  19. Seale, Lebogang (5 February 2014). "Donor funding 'a danger to democracy'". The Star. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  20. Aboobaker, Shanti (9 February 2014). "Exposed: DA-Agang mystery funder". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  21. "Battered but unbowed, Agang enter parliament". eNCA. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  22. "Ramphele quits party politics". News24. SAPA. 8 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  23. "Agang's Aims". agangsa.org.za. 21 June 2013.
  24. 1 2 "2014 National and Provincial Elections Results – 2014 National and Provincial Election Results". IEC. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  25. "Results Summary - All Ballots" (PDF). elections.org.za. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
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