Simon Nare
Despite what it described as outlandish and ridiculous demands by the DA for Cabinet positions, the ANC has reached out and offered the DA six Cabinet and seven deputy minister positions as part of the deal in the multi-party coalition agreement.
In a letter responding to DA demands, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula tells DA leader John Steenhuisen that the appointment of Cabinet positions by President Cyril Ramaphosa as enjoined by the Constitution, should be in the national interest.
Mbalula points out that Steenhuisen in the DA letter of demand, had suggested that parties would be allocated positions in the National Assembly according to the seats they secured. This, Mbalula argued, would make them accountable to themselves and not the National Assembly as it should be the case.
“It I clear to us that, subsequently, a different of understanding has arisen between our two parties regarding the interpretation of clause 16, particularly regarding whether the parties to the Statement of Intent consider all parties represented in the National Assembly or only those parties to the statement, in the determination of the number of positions they should be appointed.
“We hold the view that the representation of parties should be based on the electoral mandate that they received, reflected in the number of seats they hold in the entire National Assembly. We hold this view because parties participating in the GNU are accountable to the electorate as a whole, and therefore to all members of the National Assembly,” stated Mbalula.
Mbalula went on to suggest that a fair and reasonable number of Cabinet positions that would be allocated to the DA would be six Cabinet positions and seven deputies.
Mbalula does not address other demands of the DA such as the Deputy President or Minister in the Presidency positions as well as Director-Generals in the department allocated to the DA to be appointed by a panel consisting of the party.
The DA had also, bizarrely, demanded that all tenders that were awarded since the pronouncement of election date should be revisited.
However Mbalula does not touch on that matter but goes on to reassure Steenhuisen that the ANC is still committed to the formation of GNU and that this should be based on the principle set out in the Statement of Intent particularly on clause 16 and 17.
The clauses reads:
- The Government of National Unity shall be constituted in a manner that reflects genuine inclusiveness of political parties that are party to this Statement of Intent and are represented in the National Assembly broadly taking into account the number of seats parties have in the National Assembly and the need to advance the National Interest. The President shall in constituting the Executive, take into account the electoral outcomes.
- Whilst recognizing 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.
But it appears from the two letters leaked on social media that the two parties have a different understanding of the clauses they themselves formulated.
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