By Simon Nare
The Presidency has poured cold water on any threat to the multi-party government of national unity (GNU). This follow concerns raised by key partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to sign the Basic Education Law Amendment Bill into law.
“The president is not concerned about the GNU collapsing. When South Africans see statements and hear leaders issuing threats to the stability of the GNU, it is the incumbent upon the president to continue to lead. He leads the GNU on behalf of political parties,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
“And so, it is a responsible thing to do for him to continuously provide assurance that the GNU is stable. That when there are issues of concerns and dispute those issues will be resolved constructively.”
Magwenya, who was updating journalists on the president’s public programme on Wednesday in Cape Town, said there were mechanisms in place within the multi-party agreement to address any differences, and the GNU deal was premised on the supremacy of the country’s Constitution.
He added that Ramaphosa remained committed to the GNU and he was satisfied with its work and ministers from rival political parties working together and collaborating.
DA leader John Steenhuizen earlier in the day announced that he wanted an urgent meeting with Ramaphosa before he signed the Bill on Friday.
“If he proceeds… he will violate both the letter and spirit of the joint Statement of Intent that forms the basis of the GNU,” said Steenhuisen.
Magwenya said it was the president’s constitutional responsibility to sign a Bill into law.
“Section 79 (1) of the Constitution states that the president must either assent to and sign a Bill passed in terms of this chapter or if the president has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
“According to the Constitutional Court case in Doctors for Life International vs Speaker, the president cannot refuse to sign the Bill for political reasons. The only ground upon which the president can refuse to sign the Bill is constitutional reservations.
“This means that the president needs to apply his or her mind to evidence and submissions before him and make an independent determination on the constitutionality of the legislation,” he said.
But the DA, other parties and the Basic Education Minister are opposed to the Bill in its current form.
Steenhuisen said: “During the (GNU) negotiations, the DA made it clear that the BELA Bill was unacceptable to us in its current form, because it has constitutional implications for the right to mother-tongue education, amongst other issues. The DA urged President Ramaphosa to send the Bill back to Parliament for a few simple amendments to bring it in line with the Constitution.”’
He said that that despite this, and in “violation of the provisions of the Statement of Intent, the president seems intent on pushing ahead unilaterally”.
The president will be hosting a gala dinner for all leaders of the GNU where they will be afforded an opportunity to raise their issues of concern as well as give feed back to him.
“The president is also enthused with the level of dedication and commitment that has been demonstrated by members of his national executive, as well as the level of collaboration that ministers from different parties have applied in resolving challenges facing the government and the country,” Magwenya said.
He also announced that Ramaphosa had received a report by Justice Minister Thembi Simelane on the VBS loan saga and would not be making any public announcement on the matter just yet.
“The president appreciates the importance of the Justice Ministry in the leadership of the Justice, Security and Crime Prevention Cluster and contribution to the successful functioning of the cluster. The president is committed to ensure the highest levels of integrity within the national executive. He will consider all the facts on the matter before making any determination,” he said.
