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Danish Liberal Democracy Programme
LOF på FacebookSeptember 2023: In South Africa, the liberal stance faces immense challenges due to state centralization and corruption. However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) fights daily to liberalize the public sector, ensuring that citizens' money doesn't end up in the wrong hands. Through the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme (DLDP), a delegation from the DA visited Denmark and Venstre in September. They returned home with fresh insights, useful inspiration, and renewed confidence that their political platform could succeed in the 2024 election.
By Charlotte Wognsen,
Freelance Journalist, KommaKontoret
DLDP is an independent organization closely aligned with Venstre, working since 2012 to strengthen democracy in developing countries through partnerships with liberal parties. Their work focuses on cross-political cooperation and agreements.
DA is South Africa’s largest opposition party, and since 2018, it has partnered with DLDP, which also collaborates with the liberal party in North Macedonia and across political lines in Kenya. The Kenyan partnership is supported by the Danish Social Democrats, the Danish Conservative People's Party, and the Socialist People's Party (The Green Left).
According to Bent Nicolajsen, DLDP’s program manager, these partnerships focus on both organization and policy:
"The political climate in developing countries is often marked by instability, mistrust, lack of cooperation, and even violence. Our contribution is to provide these parties with tools to build relationships across the political spectrum and strengthen their own organizations. The goal is to make politics about policy and enhance internal democracy within the parties."
Corruption and Short-term Solutions
Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, symbolized hope, but much has gone awry in the ruling ANC party since his death. The mayor of George municipality in the Western Cape province, Leon van Wyk, expressed it clearly after a visit to Copenhagen City Hall:
"Our country is being crushed by corruption. At all levels, the ANC ensures that their own people – friends and family – are placed in key positions. This results in immature and inexperienced politicians making short-sighted decisions. In South Africa, we need a renewed understanding that politicians serve the people, not the other way around," says van Wyk, describing the ANC as a party lacking ideological foundations, with leaders who have lost both their political and moral compass.
Energy Crisis Dominates Daily Life
The delegation’s six-day trip to Denmark took them from Esbjerg to Odense and on to Copenhagen. Along the way, they visited companies and met with politicians. The key topics were party structure, coalition cooperation, and the green transition.
Lisa Walser from DA’s central organization explains:
"Corruption has crippled South Africa's entire energy infrastructure. The government has full control through the state-owned energy company Eskom, where successive ANC-appointed leaderships have drained the coffers. Since 1998, there have been no investments, only emergency repairs, plunging our country into an energy crisis. Power cuts happen several times daily, often leaving us without electricity for two hours at a time. Businesses can’t operate, and now foreign investments are disappearing."
Beverley van Reenen, a council member in Cape Town, nods in agreement:
"The situation is desperate, and energy supply will be the key issue in the 2024 election. DA is fighting for decentralizing energy supply, so money doesn’t disappear, and so that locally elected politicians can be held accountable. Nationally, we will combat the ANC's smokescreen, where energy is split between three ministries, allowing issues to bounce around without anyone taking responsibility."
In Denmark, the delegation learned about wind power, solar energy, and district heating. In an effort to become independent of Eskom, Mayor van Wyk has ensured that the traffic lights in his municipality now run on solar power. The liberal South African politicians are eager to pursue similar solutions.
Fighting for a Free Market
As a member of Liberal International, DA is convinced that a liberal path can bring South Africa back on track. More decisions must be delegated to provinces and municipalities, and private entrepreneurs in free markets should be able to compete for services like electricity and transport.
Several Venstre members contributed to inspiring the five South African delegates, including group leaders Kurt Bjerrum from Esbjerg and Claus Houden from Odense, Anton Yding and Jesper Kofoed from Venstre's national organization, deputy mayor Anette Mortensen from Stevns, Copenhagen’s employment mayor Jens-Kristian Lütken, and MP Hans Andersen.
Danish Inspiration
At LOF's facilities, the group reflected on the week's many inputs, identifying key takeaways to implement in South Africa.
Local Organizations:
Local Politics:
Coalitions and Cooperation:
Energy Policy and Green Transition:
Postscript:
After the 2024 national election, a historic coalition government was formed in South Africa, comprised of the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA). The former political rivals are being led by ANC leader President Cyril Ramaphosa.