By Simon Nare
Deputy President Paul Mashatile convened the Government of National Unity’s first Clearing House Mechanism committee meeting on Wednesday night to thrash out ways to deal with any conflict or policy disagreements that may crop up.
The committee was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month in anticipation of any clashes that might threaten the GNU given that the 10 political parties in the multi-party coalition are from different political ideologies.
There have already been some disagreements around the Basic Education Law Amendment Bill that has seen influential GNU player, the DA, threatening legal action if some clauses of the Bill are signed into law.
Ramaphosa bent over backwards when he signed the Bill as he iced clauses that were contentious.
He gave GNU parties three months to find common ground and if not, he has vowed to sign the remaining clauses into law.
The Presidency said in a statement that Mashatile was convening the meeting on Wednesday night as the leader of government business.
Representatives of the 10 political parties will start discussing conflict resolution mechanisms so that any disagreements do not affect the implementation of the of the GNU’s minimum programme of action.
“I am certain that with the first meeting of the Clearing House, parties will find each other and that our collective commitment to serve all the people of South Africa will lead to greater accountability and will foster trust between the electorate and the political parties that form part of the GNU,” Mashatile said in a statement released ahead of the meeting.
The Presidency has clarified that the committee will not override Cabinet decisions, as Cabinet remained the final decision-making body in government.
Rather, it would ensure that all GNU signatories developed a common understanding of critical policy matters.
“In addition to the Clearing House Mechanism, it was resolved that a technical committee be further established, which will serve as a processing channel for matters of divergence within the GNU. In this regard, this mechanism will establish the Political Leaders’ Forum of parties who signed the Statement of Intent,” the statement read.
Addressing journalists on the weekly update of the president’s programme, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the committee would discuss and clarify its terms of reference at the first meeting.
It would also decide how to move forward and how regularly it should meet.
“I think you should take to heart is that everything is being done to sustain the the GNU for the full term. We are confident that all members of the GNU and now well settled in their respective positions of government. There has been evidence to that effect,” he said.
Magwenya said notwithstanding any conflict that may arise in the future, all the GNU partners have displayed genuine commitment to serve the full term of the 7th administration, and so far, there was no evidence to suggest anything on the contrary.
Magwenya also revealed that Ramaphosa would outline the principle of the GNU regarding all spheres of the government during his question and answer session in the National Assembly on Thursday.
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