The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the small Independent Democrats (ID) said they hoped their new alliance would capitalize on growing frustrations with the ANC over crime and the provision of education, health care and electricity.

“This event today must merely be seen as the first step in the important task of consolidating the opposition and offering voters a true alternative government,” said ID leader Patricia de Lille.

Since taking office in May last year, President Jacob Zuma has had to steer the country through its first recession in 17 years and deal with township protests over slow delivery of services as well as a series of strikes staged by union allies.

DA leader Helen Zille said: “We’ve realized that the ruling party has become increasingly corrupt and is abusing the constitution.”

The DA, drawing much of its support from the region around Cape Town, received nearly 17 percent of the vote in the last election nationally, placing second behind the ANC which won overwhelmingly with 66 percent. The ID won less than 1 percent.

The opposition parties said the ID would be phased out as a separate organization and its members would join the DA within the next four years.

ID local councilors will be entitled to hold dual membership until local elections next year, while members of Parliament and provincial legislature will be entitled to hold dual membership until 2014.