President’s Spokesperson and Helen Zille Disagree on Ramaphosa’s Constitutional Authority to Appoint Cabinet
The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is experiencing intense negotiations and disputes over cabinet positions, clauses, and constitutional matters, delaying the start of the seventh parliament.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, emphasized the President’s prerogative to appoint cabinet members, stating there is no constitutional requirement to proportionally allocate cabinet positions among GNU signatories.
“There’s no constitutional provision that prescribes for a proportional allocation of cabinet positions. Section 91(2) of the Constitution gives the President the prerogative to appoint cabinet members. However, he is considering the inclusion of GNU partners in cabinet,” Magwenya posted.
There’s no constitutional provision that prescribes for a proportional allocation of cabinet positions. Section 91(2) of the Constitution gives the President the prerogative to appoint cabinet members. However, he is considering the inclusion of GNU partners in cabinet. https://t.co/ULbhzlLwi2
— Vincent Magwenya 🇿🇦 (@SpokespersonRSA) June 24, 2024
Helen Zille, the DA’s lead negotiator, countered this by referencing the Statement of Intent signed by the DA and ANC, arguing that agreements on how the President exercises his prerogative are constitutionally valid.
Zille highlighted that, despite the President’s constitutional powers, consultation with coalition partners is necessary when an agreement is in place.
“It defines how that prerogative will exercised. Entirely constitutional to do that. If he did not win an election, he has to consult those that contribute to a majority. Especially when an agreement is in place. Nor rocket science (sic),” Zille wrote, as she responded to another comment about Section 91 of the Constitution, Zille wrote.
It defines how that prerogative will exercised. Entirely constitutional to do that. If he did not win an election, he has to consult those that contribute to a majority. Especially when an agreement is in place. Nor rocket science.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) June 24, 2024
The ongoing debates and negotiations are focused on how Section 91 of South Africa’s Constitution, which outlines the composition and appointment of the Cabinet, will be applied in the context of the GNU.
Holomisa accuses DA of ‘blackmailing’ ANC for key government positions
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has accused the DA of “blackmailing” the ANC for additional ministerial and administrative positions.
The DA is reportedly demanding portfolios such as justice, higher education, mineral resources, and cooperative governance.
According to The Citizen, Holomisa criticised the ANC’s initial strategy of signing agreements with only a few parties, leading to the DA’s leverage over the negotiations.
He suggested including all parties, even the EFF, to avoid such issues.
“The ANC made a mistake by initially signing an agreement with one or two parties only. Now the DA is blackmailing them.
“The ANC should consider what it said from the beginning; that they should not leave anyone out of this exercise. They should consider everyone, even the EFF,” he said.
Holomisa also noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa has a broad selection of leaders for his cabinet, which he sees as an advantage.
“He (president) has an advantage. If he did not have quality people in his party now, he can scan and look who is best suited for the position,” said Holomisa.
He called for a government Lekgotla (convention) to discuss policies and working relationships among coalition partners.
Holomisa emphasised maintaining South Africa’s current foreign policy, despite the DA’s differing views on international issues.
“When we engaged with the ANC directly, we did not discuss positions. We did not ask for any positions and the only reference to the accommodation of parties in a Cabinet was that it would not be possible to accommodate all parties in Cabinet, given the size of the Cabinet of national unity.
“So, we didn’t make any demands on positions,” the report quoted Herron as saying.
“I think the letter was written for this purpose, for the media’s purpose as an attempt by the DA to pre-empt what the outcome of the Cabinet formation will be … to perhaps indicate what they demanded and how unfairly they have been treated thereafter. I think it was a sign, an act of bad faith, given that this (the statement of intent) is a document of good faith that we all signed. But this is not unexpected in negotiations of this kind,” said Herron.
“I thought, when I read the letter, that the DA are making demands that are so unreasonable that it will give them an opportunity to walk out.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and ANC are nearing a deal, potentially within 24 hours, according to DA leader John Steenhuisen.
According to The Citizen, after a positive meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Steenhuisen expressed optimism about finding a solution beneficial for all South Africans.
While details remain fluid, an announcement is imminent.
“The meeting was incredibly positive and I believe we are much closer to finding a solution that can work for all South Africans.
“While nothing is cast in stone, an announcement is imminent and could be as close as one or two days from now,” he said.
“The negotiating teams of all the parties have done excellent work. What has taken the Dutch coalition government six months to navigate, South African parties have managed in a few weeks,” the report quoted Steenhuisen as saying.
The negotiations, pressured by the potential of a “doomsday coalition” involving the ANC, EFF, and MK party, have seen the DA relinquish its demand for the deputy presidency in favour of a more equitable Cabinet distribution.
The GNU now includes ten parties, with smaller ones like Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah joining recently.
Positional power play: Gayton McKenzie speaks out on GNU Cabinet delay
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie, has attributed the delay in announcing the country’s new cabinet to ongoing disputes over positions among the parties involved.
Reports indicated that President Cyril Ramaphosa was considering the DA’s request to appoint at least 10 of its MPs to the cabinet and designate party leader John Steenhuisen as deputy president.
‘We insist on RDP houses in Orania’ – Malema reaffirms GNU conditions
Leader of the EFF Julius Malema has reiterated his party’s conditions for joining the Government of National Unity (GNU), emphasising the exclusion of the DA and FF+ and demanding the construction of RDP houses in Orania.
The ANC, having lost its majority in the recent elections, formed a coalition with the DA and others to govern.
The EFF criticised this alliance, accusing the ANC of empowering white supremacy by collaborating with the DA and discussing recognition of Orania with the FF+.
Ramaphosa to reveal new SA Cabinet soon
The ANC has announced that President Cyril Ramaphosa will reveal his new executive soon, following the inclusion of Al Jama-ah as the tenth member of the government of national unity (GNU).
According to SABC, the ANC aims to retain control over economic and security portfolios and keep Paul Mashatile in the Presidency.
Impasse in ANC-DA negotiations: ANC threatens ultimatum, says report
The ANC and DA are reported in a standoff over the DA’s demands for the deputy president position and control of key economic clusters in the government of national unity (GNU).
According to The Citizen, the ANC is close to giving the DA an ultimatum to accept certain Cabinet portfolios or leave the GNU.
The DA’s insistence on these demands has led to a deadlock, potentially delaying the announcement of the GNU Cabinet, the report said.
GNU: ‘We can’t be held to ransom,’ says Zille
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for equitable power sharing within the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU).
According to SABC, DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille insists that the African National Congress (ANC) must recognise the DA as a crucial partner and grant it significant influence in the upcoming national executive cabinet.
Her remarks come as President Cyril Ramaphosa has yet to announce his new cabinet amidst demands from various political parties.
Kunene blames DA’s ‘greed’ for delay in announcing Cabinet
The delay in announcing Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s executive is due to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) greed, Patriotic Alliance’s Kenny Kunene has reportedly claimed.
Scheduled for Sunday, the announcement was postponed due to extended negotiations.
According to The Citizen, Kunene criticised the DA for allegedly leaving the province in a state of uncertainty and accused them of hypocrisy and unreasonable demands, such as wanting party leader John Steenhuisen to be appointed deputy president.
“They want to dictate to the Premier who to appoint. They are trying to rule Gauteng through the backdoor.
“They want to dictate to the Premier who to appoint. They are trying to rule Gauteng through the backdoor,” the report quoted Kunene as saying on eNCA.
He added: “The DA are a bunch, especially the federal executive, of white supremacists who have this superiority complex and who believe black people are inferior.”
Kunene accused the DA of making unreasonable demands and harbouring nefarious intentions by pushing to have party leader Steenhuisen appointed as deputy president.
Kunene believes the EFF could have been more effective as a neutralising force in the negotiations and urged them to join the Government of National Unity (GNU) to counterbalance the DA.
“This arrogance of the DA is based on knowing the EFF can not be part of this GNU.
“The DA has made threats that it will walk away from this GNU. Let them walk away. They are not putting the country first; they are putting their greed for power first,” he said.
GNU Should Follow ANC Principles, Says COSATU
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has insisted that the principles guiding the Government of National Unity (GNU) should be based on the African National Congress (ANC) manifesto, despite the GNU comprising ten parties with varying ideologies.
A binding framework for the ANC-led government is still to be established.
According to EWN, COSATU General Secretary, Solly Phetoe, expressed concern during a media briefing in Johannesburg, saying that some parties in the GNU, particularly the Democratic Alliance (DA), pose a threat to the working class.
“COSATU remains deeply opposed to the neoliberal policies of the democratic alliance. The DA has a history of opposing all labour reforms seeking to improve the lives of workers. If the DA is to be part of the GNU, then it must abandon its anti-worker and anti-transformation agenda,” the reort quoted Phetoe as saying.
Lesufi Confirms New Gauteng Cabinet to be Announced Before Wednesday
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has confirmed that a new executive for the province will be in place before Wednesday.
The announcement of the Gauteng provincial Cabinet was postponed on Sunday without explanation.
Lesufi explained that the delay was due to complex discussions at both national and provincial levels, as the Gauteng government lacks a majority party.
[ON AIR] Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi talks to us about the ongoing negotiations for a unity government in the province. #SouthAfricaTonight #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/pSKOeIFhEE
— eNCA (@eNCA) June 23, 2024
He emphasised the need to accommodate the interests of parties recently joining the government of national unity, leading to the postponement.
Lesufi aims to conclude the cabinet formation swiftly to ensure government functionality by Wednesday.
“The fact is that there were two or three things that happened that needed to be clarified. But most importantly we needed to meaningfully engage those that have just joined the government of national unity that are part of our provincial government and their interests should be accommodated.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Gauteng Premier Lesufi reveals reasons for executive announcement delay
“I was quite convinced that was a noble request and we then postponed the briefing. But we are impatient that we conclude this work as speedily as possible. We can’t have government not functioning beyond Wednesday. I really believe we should find something before Wednesday and conclude this matter,” he said.
Lesufi also refuted rumours that he intended to form an ANC-dominated cabinet with minimal positions for the DA, attributing such claims to disinformation.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration and overcoming challenges within the government of national unity.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to announce a new national Cabinet soon, though no specific date has been provided.
The Progressive Caucus in Parliament has announced it will not disband despite three of its six parties joining the ANC’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
Now consisting of the EFF, ATM, and UAT, with a combined 42 seats, the caucus was initially formed to provide an alternative majority for the ANC, excluding the ideologically incompatible DA and FF Plus.
However, its capacity to offer a majority has diminished with the departure of the UDM, Al Jama-ah, and PAC.
According to EWN, ATM president Vuyo Zungula emphasised the importance of maintaining the caucus to ensure effective opposition and democratic checks and balances.
“It then requires other parties in Parliament to work together and play that role as an effective opposition party because that is what the Constitution dictates, that there must be checks and balances in our government structures,” the reort quoted Zungula as saying.
The caucus is expected to gain strength on Tuesday when 58 representatives from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party are sworn into Parliament.
DA pushes for Steenhuisen as deputy president in GNU
Cape Town – Sources from within the ANC have reportedly disclosed that the party has set a deadline of 5pm on Sunday for the DA to agree to revised cabinet proposals, marking the culmination of prolonged negotiations to finalise the Government of National Unity (GNU).
According to IOL, initially demanding 10 ministerial posts and seeking John Steenhuisen as deputy president, the DA has reduced its request to five ministries following extensive talks.
The ANC has countered with its own offer of five ministries, emphasizing willingness to compromise but unable to meet all of the DA’s demands.
“The ANC has made it clear that we are willing to compromise, but we cannot accede to all of the DA’s demands,” the report quoted a senior ANC source as saying.
“We have counter-offered with five ministries and believe this is a fair arrangement.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering expanding the cabinet to accommodate smaller GNU parties, possibly offering deputy minister positions, the report said.
Ramaphosa is expected to announce the cabinet by Sunday or Monday at the latest.
Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) is urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint at least 10 of its MPs to key economic portfolios and to name DA leader John Steenhuisen as deputy president in the upcoming government of national unity (GNU) cabinet, reports say.
These demands have delayed the announcement of the new cabinet, originally expected on Sunday, The Citizen reported.
Negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and DA have stalled, as the ANC offered only three cabinet posts to the DA, while the DA seeks at least 10 out of 30 positions, the report said.
Citing City Press, the report said that the DA is also pushing for Steenhuisen to become deputy president, arguing they are the second-largest party in the GNU.
“The ANC told us they were entitled to the positions of president and speaker because they are the largest minority party in the GNU.
“By that same logic, the DA must get the position of deputy president for our leader, because we are the second-largest party. This is the norm in coalition governments the world over,” the report quoted a DA insider as saying.
According to Sunday Times, however, the ANC has rejected the DA’s demands, citing a shrinking cabinet pie due to the inclusion of more parties like the UDM, Patriotic Alliance, PAC, Rise Mzansi, and FF+.
Despite the deadlock, communication lines remain open, and negotiations are ongoing, the report said.
The DA aims to manage portfolios including communication and digital technology, trade and industry, transport, public service and administration, water and sanitation, local government, and health, along with deputy minister posts in finance and health.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
