Johnathan Paoli
THE African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has called on recently-elected Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to finalise the appointment of members of the executive council (MECs) of the government of provincial unity (GPU).
Mbalula confirmed during a media briefing on Wednesday that the Premier is expected to announce the MECs in the evening and said the soon to be appointed Gauteng GPU will immediately engage with the crucial issues of the province.
Mbalula said that the modalities of constituting the provincial cabinet remained the crucial sticking point in negotiations.
He said the negotiating process followed in Gauteng was determined by the provincial leadership, in consultation with the national leadership, and guided by the national leadership in terms of the Strategic Framework the party’s national elective committee has adopted.
The SG criticised the narrative of breakdown between the parties’ provincial structures, and said the election of the speaker, deputy speaker and the premier last month was the result of a negotiated agreement between the same leadership.
He said the two parties’ had an extensive engagement yesterday in a frank and open spirit aimed at giving effect to the democratic mandate of the people following the elections earlier this year.
Mbalula said it was unfortunate that the negotiations had reached an impasse.
“Regrettably, and notwithstanding an initial agreement regarding the formation of the Provincial Executive Council, this process has not proceeded with the same alacrity,” he said.
On Tuesday, negotiations over the composition of the provincial council collapsed following their failure to find common ground, with newly elected Premier Panyaza Lesufi postponing the announcement twice in the last week.
Mbalula said the ANC was unable to accede to the latest demands of the DA, stating that the blue army was not the only party it was negotiating with on the setting up of the GPU.
He confirmed the party had written a letter to the DA on Wednesday morning, requesting a return to the negotiating table and to cease declaring a deadlock.
The party failed to respond by the deadline of Wednesday afternoon, with DA Gauteng saying there was a serious hindrance to both trust and good faith within the negotiations.
DA chairperson of the federal council Helen Zille previously said that they were happy to take their seats as the opposition if a desirable deal was not concluded.
“We don’t mind being in the opposition. It is our comfort zone,” Zille said.
DA Gauteng said it had refused the recent awarding of 3 out of eleven executive seats, and claimed the ANC had withheld the fact that smaller parties are not going to be included.
However, Mbalula said the GPU is the culmination of negotiations by 11 other parties and the ANC would continue to exercise its leadership role by engaging with every party, including those who are not part.
“The formation of the Gauteng Provincial Executive Council that will serve and lead the 7th democratic provincial administration will be an important step forward, and a testament to the resilience of our democracy,” he said.
He said the party has completed agreements with other parties in the formation of the GPU.
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