20100816
africanews

Two opposition parties, Independent Democrat party and Democratic Alliance in South Africa are planning to merge in a bid to form a united front against the ruling ANC to challenge its overwhelming grip of power. The two parties will merge in their fight of corruption, infighting, and a failure by the ANC to deliver on its election promises.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the country's main opposition party but much of its support comes from white voters around Cape Town.

Sunday's deal sees the DA more or less take over the tiny Independent Democrats who have strong support among mixed-race voters.

It wants, and needs, to broaden its appeal.

On its own, the merger poses no threat to the ANC but it points the way towards the next, crucial, deal between the DA and the Congress of the People (Cope).

Cope split from the ANC before the last national elections.

It has since been torn apart by factional fighting but still has the potential to be a serious threat to the ANC.

The ANC, with its liberation struggle credentials, remains the dominant force here.

But if the DA and its white voters team up with Cope and its black supporters, South Africa's fractured opposition could finally become a serious threat.