In a move that could redefine the dynamics of the government of national unity (GNU), leaders of the governing coalition would be required to engage in informal diplomacy to build “sufficient or majority consensus” before presenting matters for final decision-making in parliament or cabinet.
The proposed terms of the clearing house mechanism, set up last year as a platform for coalition leaders to address conflict, also leave the door ajar for new members subject to the consensus of GNU leaders.
The draft rules, dated March 7, were crafted with contributions from all GNU parties and comes amid a budget stand-off since February that has threatened to collapse the coalition in a development that has compounded US President Donald Trump-induced panic in the financial markets.
The move aims to streamline governance, ensuring potential conflicts are addressed early and decisions are made with collective buy-in before they reach formal legislative discussions.
The passing of the fiscal framework last Wednesday, in which the ANC sought support from parties represented in parliament outside the GNU, has caused mistrust between itself and the DA. John Steenhuisen, DA leader and minister of agriculture, said that the ANC had defined itself outside the coalition through the move.
Similar confrontational sentiments were expressed by the ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who on Tuesday said the DA was free to walk away from the GNU should it wish to do so and that it would be replaced by those who seek to participate in the coalition.
All parties should “refrain from undermining the collective authority of cabinet, raise disputes within the mechanism, adhere to agreed procedures and [to] respecting and implementing decisions taken in any of the GNU structures”, the document reads. “Consensus exists when all parties have had the opportunity, subject to the arrangements set out, to express their views in a meeting of the clearing house,” the draft terms of reference read.
All members will be expected to abide by decisions, including the introduction of possible new members to the GNU, according to the draft terms.
ActionSA and Build One SA could be the latest additions to GNU after they voted to support finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s fiscal framework.
If other parties want to join the GNU, there has to be a consensus and leaders who disagree with decisions made in the GNU will still be bound by them but can appeal to the president, according to the new rules.
According to the draft terms of reference of the GNU clearing house, the president will arbitrate disputes in the GNU clearing house, but not in private meetings. This removes direct appeals to the president and back-room deals at the expense of smaller parties in the GNU, which Business Day understands feel “sidelined by the DA”.
The draft terms also say GNU structures should not undermine the legislative authority of parliament or the executive authority of the president and cabinet, saying they are supplementary, not supreme.
“The existence of the GNU structures does not preclude political parties in the GNU, and their representatives, to conduct ad hoc consultations to facilitate co-operation and avoid disputes within the GNU,” the draft terms of reference read.
GNU stakeholders are expected to have one final opportunity to raise issues with the clearing house’s terms of reference before they are adopted. The adoption of the terms could stabilise the GNU, which is teetering after the DA used the budget framework to outline its economic vision for SA.
“The DA overplayed its hand and sought to salvage lost ground,” Mbalula said in an ANC national working committee briefing on Tuesday. “It overreached in its attempt to extract budgetary concessions through arm-twisting negotiations. Its threat to collapse the budget if not given more executive powers and concessions was met with decisive leadership.”
The committee resolved to reset the GNU and renegotiate its operations. The first item to be negotiated is the passing of two budget bills: the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriations Bill, which are due to be considered by parliament in May and June, respectively.
The party negotiators, including chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, have been given five days, beginning on Tuesday, to also hold discussions with parties regarding the alternative revenue streams for the fiscus apart from the half a percentage point VAT hike.
The nonbinding recommendation, which was included in the report of parliament’s two finance committees and passed by the National Assembly, was brought forward by ActionSA MP Alan Beesley and was a key component of the last-minute deal struck by ActionSA and the ANC to have the budget passed.
ActionSA, however, said it would not join the GNU unless the VAT hike was scrapped, saying the ANC had not approached it regarding the coalition government either.
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