Formation The party was founded by
Wonder Mahlatsi, a former
African National Congress (ANC) member and businessman. The party was launched in November 2022 in
Johannesburg. The UAT has been criticized for its lack of clear policies and its perceived opportunism in breaking away from the ANC. Some have also questioned the leadership style and the party's lack of transparency in its finances and decision-making processes. The GNU aimed to include various political parties to ensure stable government where no party had an absolute majority. In July 2024, Mahlatsi remarked, "it took us by surprise to hear the President of the Republic announcing that the UAT is part of GNU," implying that formalities for it joining the GNU had not been concluded by the time the president announced that it had joined. In the same statement, Mahlatsi announced the UAT's withdrawal from the GNU due to allegations of exclusion from critical decision-making processes and bad faith negotiations, after it did not get any ministerial posts or chairperson positions in
parliamentary committee portfolios. He expressed disappointment with the ANC, emphasizing the need for fair and inclusive coalition governance. == Current structure and composition ==