The DA and the ANC, the two largest parties by voter share, have agreed to form a government of national unity with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the helm.
DA leader John Steenhuisen confirmed on Friday that the party would move from the opposition benches and would now have representatives in the national cabinet as well as in provincial governments in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where there has been no outright winner.
This means the MK party will be the official opposition in parliament.
“In terms of the agreement, the DA will assume various leadership roles in the national cabinet, the national assembly and on parliamentary portfolio committees broadly in proportion to the number of seats within the government of national unity,” Steenhuisen said during a media conference on Friday.
ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula said on Friday that although the deal includes sharing of cabinet positions, the DA would not dictate which individuals are included.
“The GNU is on track. The ANC has now successfully formed governments in the six provinces that we have won and formed governments of provincial unity in Gauteng province and KZN,” he said.
He added that the door was still open for the MK party to join the GNU.
“It cannot be determined by another party. When we were discussing with the DA, they put the red lines which we appreciated but at the end of the day we are not negotiating the red lines, we are negotiating what is good for South Africans. On that score we actually agree, but from the point of the view of the ANC, it doesn't mean that we are hamstrung to engage and talk to other parties in the context of what is good for SA,” he said.
“If MK party itself, let’s say in the discussions and engagements, wishes to participate and do any other, it will be determined by the process of engagement. That is what is important for us. It’s not going to be determined by the DA. We went to speak to MK and spoke to the EFF despite the red lines,” he said.
Meanwhile, political parties that have agreed to form part of the ANC-brokered power-sharing deal have given themselves a six week deadline to develop a policy agenda, according to a preliminary statement of intent.
The draft statement of intent for the government of national unity (GNU), which was circulated to parties on Thursday by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula ahead of the first sitting of the national assembly on Friday, says the policy agenda should include policy priorities and policy compromises.
The GNU so far is made up of the ANC, DA, IFP and Patriotic Alliance. The MK party and EFF have rejected the deal.
The draft statement of intent, which Business Day has seen, outlines the GNU’s eight priorities, including respect for the constitution and the Bill of Rights, social justice and redress, a professional, merit-based public service and good governance and leadership.
“The GNU is constituted in the interest of all South Africans. This statement of intent will therefore be a public document to ensure accountability and foster trust between the electorate and the political parties that form part of the GNU,” the document reads.
“Parties commit to an all-inclusive National Dialogue process — with parties, civil society, labour, business and other sectors — to discuss these and other critical challenges facing the nation. The national dialogue process will seek to develop a national social compact that enables the country to meet the aspirations of the National Development Plan.”
Some of the preliminary policy priorities outlined in the statement include :
- Rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the promotion of fixed capital investment and industrialisation, job creation, transformation, livelihood support, land reform, infrastructure development, structural reforms and transformational change fiscal sustainability, and the sustainable use of our national resources and endowments. Macroeconomic management must support national development goals in a sustainable manner.
- Creating a more just society by tackling poverty, spatial inequalities, food security and the high cost of living, providing a social safety net, improving access to and the quality of, basic services, and protecting workers’ rights.
- Stabilising local government, effective co-operative governance, the assignment of appropriate responsibilities to different spheres of government and review of the role of traditional leadership in the governance framework.
- Investing in people through education, skills development and affordable quality healthcare.
- Building state capacity and creating a professional, merit-based, corruption-free and developmental public service.
- Restructuring and improving state-owned entities to meet national development goals.
- Strengthening law enforcement agencies to address crime, corruption and gender-based violence, as well as strengthening national security capabilities.
The draft statement of intent also outlines how the GNU would function including how the parties will resolve disputes, how the cabinet will be constituted and decisions taken.
“The government of national unity shall be constituted in a manner that reflects broadly the proportionality of the electoral outcomes, the allocation of seats in the national assembly and the national interest,” the document reads.
“While recognising the President’s prerogative to appoint members of the executive, such appointments should be done in consultation with the leaders of the respective parties of the members considered for appointment.”
*This article has been updated to include comments from ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula
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