By Simon Nare
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the government of national unity (GNU), describing it as a united front that is bound together by a commitment to better the lives of South Africans. This was despite the parties coming from different ideological backgrounds.
Ramaphosa, who was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces, scoffed at suggestions that the GNU was a “Ramaphosa and DA” alliance other than a multi-party government represented by 10 parties.
The president said during oral replies on Thursday that those who were peddling such information were very wrong, and lambasted DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille’s statements on the GNU as irresponsible.
This was after a house delegate put it to Ramaphosa that Zille was on record saying that the government would not implement any policy that did not enjoy DA support or was endorsed by the party.
“It is not a government that revolves around the president and another political party. It’s a government of national unity of 10 political parties that are involved in the GNU. We are determined to work together as the GNU. How anyone including the person that you referred to (Zille) seeks to describe it as just really a matter of polemics,” he replied.
“It’s just somebody who is whistling out there in the wind and trying to paint a particular colour to what we are seeking to do. Those that are involved in the GNU know. We engaged with each other with respect, recognition and with acceptance of the role of each of the party [at] play.”
Ramaphosa said the commitment of political parties serving in the GNU was confirmed on Wednesday when he hosted a gala dinner and all the partners were on the same page about serving the people of South Africa.
He said the GNU was moving forward as a united government made up by different political parties that had agreed to work together to address the challenges of the country.
The president added that the Statement of Intent signed by the parties was very clear on what must be done and that had formed the basis for a clear programme that needed to be executed.
“Now I appointed a Cabinet that is made up of the various parties; some are represented in Parliament and many of them are represented in the executive.
And I would like to give you a front row seat to see how that is working out. It is working out so well.
“It is working so well that everyone who has been appointed is showing a great deal of commitment, not to work for themselves, not to work for their own parties, but to work for the people of South Africa. And that is the strength of what we are seeking to do. And this is the government I lead, and I lead it in the interest of South Africa,” said Ramaphosa.
Despite the parties coming from various ideological backgrounds, they had agreed on a common programme that would have far reaching reforms for social and economic transformation.
The mandate of the GNU was to execute the wishes of the people of South Africa.
Ramaphosa said that when the parties met on Wednesday, it was agreed that a processing team should be established to deal with any difficulties or differences that may arise.
He said there were bound to be issues because of different ideological backgrounds and this team would be on hand to deal with such matters.
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