The ANC and DA look to be on the same page going into the first sitting of the National Assembly, following late brinkmanship to decide who will lead the house and how the vote will go in SA's presidential election.
Agriculture minister Thoko Didiza and the DA’s chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube, look to have the nod for speaker and deputy speaker of the National Assembly from SA’s two biggest parties, the ANC and DA which insiders in both parties confirmed to Business Day on Friday morning.
Both nominees are also expected to have the support of the IFP, and other small opposition parties who are apart of the ANC's push for a government of national unity (GNU).
The ANC and DA are also understood to have worked until the early hours of Friday morning to iron out the speaking order and how they will respond to any disruptions in the house.
Meanwhile, the EFF and others who are not a part of the GNU, because their demands were rejected by the DA and IFP late on Thursday, were expected to contest the election of speaker, deputy speaker and president.
This includes the MK party, which is SA’s third biggest political party. MK MPs appear to want to make a surprise appearance in Parliament on Friday following a public pronouncement they would boycott the sitting.
The first sitting of the National Assembly following the country’s seventh post-democracy general election, which failed to produce a decisive winner, got under way a short while ago.
SA’s new president-elect is set to be chosen and 400 parliamentarians will also be sworn in.
Business Day has learnt that a preliminary framework has been drafted, detailing the functioning of the GNU, the responsibilities of the various political parties, and the mutual accountability they will uphold.
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