By Simon Nare
The first meeting of the Government of National Unity’s Clearing House Mechanism committee for conflict resolution barely made any significant headway on Wednesday night.
The meeting convened by Deputy President Paul Mashatile was supposed to have thrashed out ways to deal with differences in the multi-party coalition, but instead it was reduced to party’s making representations, Inside Politics has learnt.
The party representatives only made representations pertaining to the committee’s terms of reference. The meeting was adjourned, and another is planned for in coming weeks
It did not last for more than an hour.
But in a statement on Thursday morning, The Presidency said the meeting got off to a good start without giving details.
It only revealed that the meeting was attended by Minister Maropene Ramakgopa and ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, Minister Dean Mcpherson from the Democratic Alliance, Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa from Inkatha Freedom Party, Brett Herron from GOOD Party, Apa Pooe from the Pan Africanist Congress, Corne Mulder from Freedom Front Plus, Kenny Kunene from Patriotic Alliance, Kabelo Gwamanda from Al Jama-Ah, Makashule Gana from Rise Mzansi, and apologies were noted from Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa from United Democratic Movement.
It further said Mashatile would serve as the Secretariat of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism.
“The meeting welcomed the draft Terms of Reference and agreed that these be finalised in the next meeting to be held in Parliament on Thursday, 24 October 2024 from 09h00 to 13h00,” it said.
The committee has been tasked to come with mechanisms to deal with any arising conflicts withing the GNU and according to the statement, the next meeting would receive a number of reports.
They included preparations for South Africa’s upcoming presidency of the G20, preparations for the National Dialogue, policy challenges such as the Basic Education Law Amendment Act – specifically on the two contentious clauses. President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked that they form part of the engagement with relevant parties.
The statement added that the meeting would also deal with challenges at provincial and local government level.
“It was appreciated that contradictions are inevitable in coalition governments and that learning from countries who have such coalitions is the best mechanism to employ towards achieving the goals set out in the Statement of Intent,” the statement said.
INSIDE POLITICS
