FF Plus in WC promises to address issues in coloured communities

Clarence Ford is joined by Western Cape premier candidate for the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), Corné Mulder.

Political players who don’t have buy-in from so-called coloured communities don’t stand much chance of success at the ballot box.

That's according to Corné Mulderr, the Western Cape Premier candidate for the Freedom Front Plus.

Mulder says his party is more focused than ever on wooing coloured voters to the party, and that failure of any party in the province to do so would be to its detriment.

"The reality is, that in this province, the coloured community are the vast majority and anyone who thinks they can influence politics in this province without taking on the issues of that community is not realistic."

Corné Mulder, Member - National Assembly of South Africa/WC Premier Candidate -FF Plus

"My view is that the coloured community has been in a very difficult position for various reasons for many, many years...before 1994 they were seen as not white enough and since 1994 it seems they are not black enough."

Corné Mulder, Member - National Assembly of South Africa/WC Premier Candidate -FF Plus

And just what are the main issues the FF Plus believes are affecting the lives of so-called coloured communities?

"We would like to implement policies and assist the communities to get free of poverty, of corruption, of crime, of drug problems, of gangsterism..."

Corné Mulder, Member - National Assembly of South Africa/WC Premier Candidate -FF Plus

But are such issues, not overwhelmingly class-related than race-related, counters Clarence Ford?

"It's true. It is a class problem in the sense that, this has developed over many, many years...that's why we reach out to civil society and to business. It should be all hands on deck, political parties alone cannot solve this."

Corné Mulder, Member - National Assembly of South Africa/WC Premier Candidate -FF Plus

Five years ago, the FF Plus recruited former Cape Town mayor and Western Cape premier, Peter Marais, to return to politics, and convinced former provincial police commissioner, Lennit Max, to join its ranks in efforts to make inroads in these communities. 

However, Mulder says a lot of the party's hopes rest on some of its younger members coming up through the ranks in the province.

"We've got some wonderful young people coming through from all communities in the party's youth structures...I think some of them will be elected."

Corné Mulder, Member - National Assembly of South Africa/WC Premier Candidate -FF Plus