Cape Town – 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.
“Playing its cards close its chest, the ANC is seemingly not prepared to give up any of the economics or security portfolios. It also wants to keep the Presidency with the consensus that Paul Mashatile should stay,” the report said.
The DA, however, seeks the Minister in the Presidency position for its leader, John Steenhuisen, though the final decision lies with the president.
Over the weekend, DA’s Helen Zille emphasised the DA’s crucial role in the GNU.
“We can’t be held to ransom. I mean the DA is a very serious partner in this. We can’t just be a walking stick to help the ANC continue as it has done before. We have to be able to have some real influence and power in the government to make life better for South Africans,” she was quoted as saying.
Second-largest party in the GNU
Since the GNU’s establishment, ten political parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD Party, Patriotic Alliance (PA), Pan African Congress (PAC), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Freedom Front Plus (FF PLUS), and Al Jama-ah, have joined, with Rise Mzansi being the latest addition.
Reports indicate that the DA has urged 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 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.
Shrinking cabinet pie due
“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
