a former Miss India SA, a campaigner for the pardoning of Schabir Shaik and human rights activist, has launched a political party.
|||Durban - A former Miss India SA, a campaigner for the pardoning of Schabir Shaik and human rights activist, has launched a political party.
Shabnam Palesa Mohamed launched Revolution South Africa (RSA), on Youth and Father’s Day at the weekend, and hopes it will appeal to the “oppressed, frustrated and unrepresented”.
Mohamed made headlines two years ago when she campaigned to get Schabir Shaik a presidential pardon.
She is also an attorney and the founder of Stand Up Foundation, an organisation which works for human rights.
The launch, outside the Durban city hall, was directed at gathering signatures of support and included an open mic event at which passers-by were encouraged to speak up about their causes and concerns.
On whether the party would stand a fighting chance in next year’s general election, political analyst Samadoda Fikeni said: “New parties try for that 1 percent of the vote and RSA may not have even that”.
He said although Mohamed might have her convictions, realistically the party would only stand a chance at local government elections and not in the provincial and national arena.
Fikeni said a high profile, struggle credentials, and business alliances to fund millionrand drives were important for a successful campaign.
Mohamed was confident the party would overcome the funding hurdle.
“We use our own resources until investors decide they are activists themselves and want to invest in the party,” she said, adding that funding would come from registration fees at R5, and from sales of the party’s newspaper.
Mohamed insisted the party would contest the national elections.
Independent Electoral Commission chief electoral officer for KZN, Mawethu Mosery, could not confirm yesterday whether RSA had registered.
He said parties could register at any time, at a cost of R500, but parties wishing to contest the national elections would be required to lodge a R500 000 deposit with the IEC by March next year. – Cadet News Agency
ayanda.mhlanga@inl.co.za
Daily News