While the launch of the newest political party will undoubtedly change the dynamic of SA politics, there will also be a significant realignment of opposition parties over the next year.
Just two weeks after attending the national convention that marked the birth of the Congress of the People (Cope), Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille re-launched her own party, calling it "the most significant event in the history of our party".
Zille believes there is the very real prospect of an electoral change of government - through a coalition or otherwise - during the next 10 years and she wants to be a key player in that process.
But ironically, while the ANC will face the first real challenge to its power at the polls in 2009, smaller political parties may also emerge as casualties.
Professor of political science at Unisa Dirk Kotzé says Cope could well attract a significant number of traditional DA supporters as well as disaffected ANC members.
This will almost certainly affect the DA's base in Gauteng as well as its position as official opposition in some provincial legislatures. "I have no doubt that the DA's decision to re-launch is a direct response to the new party," says Kotze. "There's a possibility th e DA could become a more regional party with its base in the Western Cape."
The new party could also change the face of the political landscape in the Eastern Cape, seen as a stronghold of Bantu Holomisa's United Democratic Movement (UDM).
Support for the UDM comes largely from disaffected ANC members, many of whom will likely drift to the new party.
The result could be coalitions at different levels of government after the 2009 polls.
Holomisa says he believes at least three provinces - Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal - will be governed by a coalition after the 2009 elections.
Zille has said that coalitions based on principles and values can work.
"That is where we are going in the future," she declared in November.
