ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has decisively rejected the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) proposal for a 5-4-1 Gauteng provincial cabinet.
This proposal, which sought to allocate five MEC positions to the ANC, four to the DA, and one to the IFP, was dismissed by Mbalula. He emphasized that Premier Panyaza Lesufi would announce his executive on Wednesday night, regardless of the DA’s involvement.
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Talks between the DA and the ANC in Gauteng reached a deadlock on Tuesday. Initially, the DA demanded three MEC positions, along with the roles of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Chairs in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, which the ANC had accepted.
However, the DA later revised its demand to the 5-4-1 proposal. Mbalula pointed out that the DA’s federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, had misinterpreted the statement of intent of the Government of National Unity (GNU), leading to the failure of negotiations.
According to Mbalula, the ANC in Gauteng cannot agree to the DA’s latest proposals. He emphasized that the DA’s new demands undermined an agreed-upon principle in national negotiations, which allowed provinces to proceed with their own negotiations.
Mbalula further highlighted that the ANC was also in talks with other parties to set up the provincial government and that they were determined to proceed with the cabinet announcement without the DA’s input.
Helen Zille, addressing the media from Rosebank, expressed the DA’s desire for a power-sharing agreement with the ANC, citing the similar election results in Gauteng. The ANC holds 28 seats (34% of the vote), while the DA has 22 seats (27% of the vote).
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Zille accused the ANC of ignoring the GNU’s framework, which, according to her interpretation of clause 16, mandates inclusiveness of all political parties based on election outcomes. She stated that the DA would not tolerate the ANC’s attitude and approach in the negotiations.
The ANC and DA previously signed an agreement to form the GNU during the first sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town International Convention Centre last month.
Despite this, the ongoing deadlock in Gauteng highlights the complexities and challenges of coalition governance. As Premier Lesufi prepares to announce his cabinet, the political landscape in Gauteng remains uncertain.
