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Anti-Apartheid Leader Launches New Party in South Africa Anti-Apartheid Leader Forms New Party in South Africa
(35 minutes later)
JOHANNESBURG — Mamphela Ramphele, a respected veteran of the struggle against apartheid, announced on Monday that she has formed a new political party to challenge the governing African National Congress, calling on South Africans to “join me on a journey to build the country of our dreams.” JOHANNESBURG — Mamphela Ramphele, a respected veteran of the struggle against apartheid, announced on Monday that she had formed a new political party to challenge the governing African National Congress, calling on South Africans to “join me on a journey to build the country of our dreams.”
The party will be called Agang, meaning “build,” said Dr. Ramphele, a physician who became an anti-apartheid activist and a leader of the Black Consciousness movement. In recent years, Dr. Ramphele has focused on social activism and business, serving until last week as the chairwoman of Gold Fields, a major mining firm. The party will be called Agang, meaning “build,” said Dr. Ramphele, a physician who became an anti-apartheid activist and a leader of the Black Consciousness Movement. In recent years, Dr. Ramphele has focused on social activism and business, serving until last week as the chairwoman of Gold Fields, a major mining firm.
The new party is the latest in a string of challengers to the dominance of the A.N.C., which has won every national election since apartheid ended in 1994 but has come under increasing scrutiny over charges of corruption and poor governance. In addition, inequality has grown in South Africa since the end of apartheid despite the party’s pledge to bring “a better life for all.”. The new party is the latest in a string of challengers to the dominance of the A.N.C., which has won every national election since apartheid ended in 1994 but has come under increasing scrutiny over charges of corruption and poor governance. In addition, inequality has grown in South Africa since the end of apartheid, despite the party’s pledge to bring “a better life for all.”
Dr. Ramphele, 65, argued forcefully to an audience in Johannesburg that the government had failed to deliver on its promises and vowed to tackle corruption head on. Dr. Ramphele, 65, argued forcefully to an audience in Johannesburg that the government had failed to deliver on its promises, and vowed to tackle corruption head on.
“The country of our dreams has unfortunately faded,” she said. “The dream has faded for the many living in poverty and destitution in our increasingly unequal society. And perhaps worst of all, my generation has to confess to the young people of our country: we have failed you. We have failed to build for you an education and training system to prepare you for life in the 21st century.” “The country of our dreams has unfortunately faded,” she said. “The dream has faded for the many living in poverty and destitution in our increasingly unequal society. And perhaps worst of all, my generation has to confess to the young people of our country: We have failed you. We have failed to build for you an education and training system to prepare you for life in the 21st century.”
It is a refrain that echoes the criticisms of other opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition, which was reported to have courted Dr. Ramphele, seeking to put a prominent and well-respected black leader at the head of what is still perceived as a largely white party despite its gains in urban black townships. It is a refrain that echoes the criticisms of other opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition party, which was reported to have courted Dr. Ramphele, seeking to put a prominent and well-respected black leader at the head of what is still perceived as a largely white party, despite its gains in urban black townships.
Bantu Holomisa, leader of the United Democratic Movement, which he started after leaving the A.N.C. in 1997, said in a statement that he welcomed Dr. Ramphele to politics and signaled a willingness to join forces. Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the United Democratic Movement, which he started after leaving the A.N.C. in 1997, said in a statement that he welcomed Dr. Ramphele to politics and signaled a willingness to join forces.
“We look forward to working with Dr. Ramphele in our efforts to build a strong political alternative for the people of South Africa,” he said.“We look forward to working with Dr. Ramphele in our efforts to build a strong political alternative for the people of South Africa,” he said.
But efforts to blunt A.N.C. dominance have struggled in the past. The Congress of the People, a breakaway party started in 2008 by supporters of the former president, Thabo Mbeki, and other disgruntled A.N.C. members, has seen its power wane. But efforts to blunt A.N.C. dominance have struggled in the past. The Congress of the People, a breakaway party started in 2008 by supporters of a former president, Thabo Mbeki, and other disgruntled A.N.C. members, has seen its power wane.
The A.N.C. has been rocked by scandal and tragedy over the past year.The A.N.C. has been rocked by scandal and tragedy over the past year.
President Jacob Zuma has faced repeated investigations over $27 million in government money spent on security upgrades to his private residence in his home village of Nkandla.President Jacob Zuma has faced repeated investigations over $27 million in government money spent on security upgrades to his private residence in his home village of Nkandla.
The police killing of 33 striking workers at a platinum mine in August caused many to question the A.N.C.’s commitment to helping the poor. The crisis led credit agencies to slash the country’s debt rating, which further damaged slow economic growth. The killing of 33 striking workers by the police at a platinum mine in August caused many to question the A.N.C.’s commitment to helping the poor. The crisis led credit agencies to slash the country’s debt rating, which further damaged slow economic growth.