Tlholohelo Mosala
Former president Jacob Zuma has gone to ground and thereby stalling ANC overtures to begin coalition talks with MK Party in efforts to form a government.
This was revealed by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula on the sidelines of the party’s crucial special NEC meeting where a decision with which party to form a coalition a government is set to be taken after there was no majority winner in the May 29 elections.
Talking to journalists outside the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg outside Johannesburg where the NEC is meeting, Mbalula said they have been trying to initiate talks with MK just like they have been talking to other parties with numbers at the National Assembly.
“It’s been very difficult to engage with the MK. We tried to reach out, that’s what we tried to explain. We tried to reach out and we drew a blank. What we know is what the leader of the party has said and is very difficult to talk to the people there because when you talk to them, they tell you they’re still waiting for ‘ubaba’ and ubaba aka tholakali, so we tried to reach out. Even if yourself you can be in a position to help us, help us,” said Mbalula.
He said negotiations will continue with other parties that are available because life must go on and a government must be constituted. Parties have 14 days after the announcement of the results to negotiate and a first sitting convened to elect a president and a speaker.
“It depends after this meeting whether we will still meet with them, but we are open to talk with everybody, including the MK Party,” he said.
Mbalula said high on the NEC agenda is the proposal of the ANC NWC which recommended the establishment of national unity with other political parties, such as DA, NFP, PA and others. Also to be discussed is the appointment of premiers in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West.
A small crowd of people wearing ANC regalia gathered outside Birchwood calling for the ANC not to go into coalition with the DA. Asked about the protest, Mbalula protesters were misplaced.
“The protest is unfortunate and is really misplaced, because this is time for sober minds,” he said.
Mbalula said ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to brief the nation at 6pm on Thursday on the decision of the NEC when he close the meeting.
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