Cape Town — The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has become the latest party to join the Government of National Unity (GNU) after the party accepted the proposal from the African National Congress (ANC).
The UDM will now become the eighth party in the GNU, and will join the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), GOOD party and FF+.
In a letter drafted by UDM president, Bantu Holomisa, to ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, he detailed the conversation and the reasoning behind the party’s decision.
“The UDM herewith accepts the invitation to join the government of national unity,” wrote Holomisa.
“We note that those issues will later be discussed by all participants in the GNU. The agreement will subsequently be signed, and the public will be informed later on how the GNU will operate,” Holomisa’s letter stated.
The UDM also said it was satisfied with the intentions to host a national dialogue, something the party has been advocating for.
UDM on GNU see hereunder a self explanatory communique to ANC SG and the public . pic.twitter.com/9P3kZocmso
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) June 21, 2024
According to TimesLIVE, the ANC has said it is willing to work with all political parties represented in parliament to bolster the GNU. Thus far, only the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have expressed no intentions of joining the GNU.
The MK Party has made it clear it would not consider any relationship with the ANC as long as it is still led by its president Cyril Ramaphosa while the EFF made demands for ministries and other positions that the ANC could not agree to.
The UDM, along with other parties represented in parliament, had requested Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to facilitate a meeting of all political parties where they said the agenda of the seventh administration would be discussed given that there was no outright winner.
These parties said the formation of a GNU could not solely be left to the ANC to lead and convene.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
