'The PA is continuing to disrupt. There are shifts happening' - Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst

CapeTalk's Clarence Ford speaks to political analyst Clyde N.S. Ramalaine, a theologian, lifelong social and economic justice activist, published author, poet, and freelance writer. 

Listen below:

In the past 30-odd years, identity and politics have been defined and related to homogenous racial categories, says Ramalaine. 

When it comes to 'coloured' identity politics, he says you can't define this group without talking about class.

This is also a group of people that can be defined and often divided historically in different categories; geographically, culturally, racially, by language, religion, class, and in various other ways.

"... the Democratic Alliance... there was a time when it controlled what we would call the 'coloured vote'... However, you can also begin to see that there is a kind of move away from that kind of grip, at least, how it's defined in the lower strata of socio-economic groups versus more middle or upper class groups..."

- Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst 

Political parties still approach marginalised individuals from various backgrounds as 'a homogenous group', argues Ramalaine, which might disrupt the political space and impact the influence they have on these groups.

"It is fair to say that even if you would dissect them along the lines we've established; rural vs urban, English vs Afrikaans, religion... it seems like political parties still come to the particular constituency as a homogenous group, that means, they don't necessarily go to the group and do these dissections, they hope to harvest from the group whatever they can harvest."

- Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst 

"... the NCC and PA... they have targeted the 'marginalised group' of the particular [homogenous] group in that regard... the marginalised group doesn't necessarily benefit, you're not part of what we would call the middle or upper class groups... it is contested space because if you can have, particularly in the Western Cape, a significant percentage of the group on your side, which is what the DA has had so far, then it redefines how the politics play out, how things can change or how things can be governed..."

- Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst 

Ramalaine also weighs in on Liam Jacobs leaving the Democratic Alliance (DA) and moving to the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

"I'm not suggesting that Liam joining the PA would change things significantly, I'm saying these are symbolic things that are happening, these are strategic wins the PA has made, there are certain implications for the DA in terms of losing a youthful, articulate, savvy, coloured MP because the State continues to define Liam as coloured, the State continues to define Gayton McKensie as coloured... It makes sense for people who make up that group."

- Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst 

"The PA is continuing to disrupt... in the same week that the PA's President, as the Minister, is scrutinised by the committee that Liam sits as part of the sports portfolio committee... in that same week, he is won over in that regard. That must say something. The DA is currently concerned that Liam has never resigned... it just shows the dissonance of the DA... already there's been live streams. What letter are they waiting for? It just shows how disconnected the DA are... these shifts happened before Liam came on board. Liam is an indication, not the totality of a major defection."

- Clyde Ramalaine, political analyst 

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