Lesufi: Door still open to DA in Gauteng

Lesufi

Cape Town – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is not closing the door to the Democratic Alliance’s participation in his provincial government.

This comes after the DA stepped back from power-sharing talks with the ANC in the province and its subsequent announcement that the party’s Refiloe Nt’sekhe would resign from her position as Deputy Speaker.

“There was no need for them to abruptly withdraw the deputy speaker while we were going to discuss this matter. It’s unfortunate and regrettable, but we’ll persuade them. The door is open. We can’t close that door,” Lesufi told eNCA.

“The withdrawal of the deputy speaker is unfortunate and regrettable, but it is something that can be reversed,” he said.

Lesufi unveiled his new provincial executive this week after days of fractious negotiations with the DA and other parties participating the national Government of National Unity. The ANC retained the lion’s share of positions with seven, while the PA, IFP and Rise Mzansi each secured one, according to TimesLive.

“We are ready to provide them with the six portfolio committees. We emphasised we are ready to give three MEC positions,” Lesufi said.

Earlier, the DA’s Gauteng leaders Solly Msimanga announced that Nt’sekhe would be asked to resign.

“The DA is not going into this for the sake of adding numbers or just wanting positions for the sake of having those positions. We want to be there strategically, to bring in the changes that we said we wanted to bring in. Therefore, the positions that we were seeking to get were supposed to be complementary to each other,” Msimanga said.

Lesufi said on Thursday  he had to announce his executive when he did because the budget was in danger of not being passed and various institutions had to be paid.

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