Waghied Misbach
Waghied Misbach
The defection of Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) deputy president Themba Godi and others does not spell the end of the road for the former liberation movement.
This was the view of PAC spokesman Mudini Maivha yesterday as news spread that MP and standing committee on public accounts chairman Godi and two others had defected to the newly-formed African People's Convention (APC).
Godi could not be reached for comment yesterday but is expected to reveal further details today of the reasons for his defection.
Godi will be joined by Gauteng MPL Malesela Ledwaba and Eastern Cape MPL Zingisa Mkabela. If the PAC loses two more seats it will have no representation in any of the legislatures. The party's former general secretary Mofihli Likotsi is also expected to defect. This will leave former PAC president Motsoko Pheko as the only PAC MP.
However, Pheko, who is involved in a legal battle to prevent his expulsion from the party, has said he will not leave the party.
Maivha told Sowetan yesterday the defections were a loss to the party, but that its leadership was determined to carry on.
"It's a loss, but we have not lost our support on the ground. We believe we will improve on our performance in the next election."
The PAC gained 170 000 votes in the last election, which Maivha says puts it on course to reach its target of 20 percent of the national vote in 2009.