ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has written a harsh letter to DA Leader John Steenhuisen, accusing him of changing the terms of the talks about who will hold cabinet roles. In the letter, Ramaphosa told Steenhuisen that they found the earlier letter by DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille, to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, offensive, condescending, and inconsistent with the Constitution. Ramaphosa, in his letter, further says the DA has been disruptive and uncooperative in the negotiations, unlike other parties. Political analyst. Prof Dirk Kotze says the chances of the DA leaving the GNU are slim and if they do leave, the KZN Government will collapse.
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) is committed to working out a deal over posts in President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s cabinet, a party source close to the talks told Reuters on Friday, in response to reports that negotiations were at risk of collapse.
A senior official on the negotiating team for Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) said coalition discussions were “almost done”.
South African media had reported that a major disagreement between the pro-business DA and the ANC over the trade and industry portfolio had threatened to derail the collaboration between the two parties.
He gave the DA a stern warning, saying the ANC wanted to conclude negotiations this week.
In the letter addressed to DA leader John Steenhuisen, dated June 25, Ramaphosa s
aid he found the correspondence from DA federal council chair Helen Zille “offensive, condescending and inconsistent with the constitution”.
He said discussions with the 10 political parties who signed the statement of intent, including the DA, had served to entrench an appreciation for the constitution and its values and an understanding of the rules of an effective and lawful government.
“Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the DA. In its recent proposal, I believe the DA has jeopardised the foundation of setting up a government of national unity by moving the goalposts in your [Steenhuisen] letter of 24 June 2024 to me,” wrote Ramaphosa.
Similarly, we cannot see the rationale for reducing the number of DA deputy ministries to only four…”
In the letter from Zille, the DA had demanded 12 cabinet posts and the deputy president position.
Zille said directors-general (DGs) in departments reporting to the DA ministers should be selected by panels consisting of the party’s ministers, and submitted to the president for approval.
“The contracts of all current DGs would also need to be reconsidered in light of our concern that incumbents may not be amenable to direction from Democratic Alliance ministers, especially given the ANC’s cadre deployment policy.
“That all tenders in departments reporting to Democratic Alliance ministers issued since the promulgation of the election date be reviewed. It is obviously not possible to effect change in a context where recent decisions by the previous government are rendered irreversible.”
But Ramaphosa said: “I also prefer not to deal further with the legally incompetent proposals to unilaterally redetermine contractual arrangements of directors-general and other contracts.
“I did inform you that I felt we should not dwell on the misguided propositions contained in that letter as paying attention to the contents of that letter would divert us from the task at hand of constituting a government of national unity.”
Ramaphosa said there was a constitutional requirement that the cabinet should work as a collective under his leadership as president.
“The latest proposal by the DA do not, I am afraid, align with the principles adopted and encapsulated in the statement of intent. The way they have been submitted undermines the process we had committed to following – open, grounded, consistent, constitutionally compliant engagements honouring the collective understanding of our goal to create a government that reflects the will of the people,” said Ramaphosa.
“We are unable to accede to the DA’s latest proposals… I’m sure you’re aware that the DA is not the only party we [ANC] are negotiating with on the setting up of a government of national unity. Following my meeting with you yesterday we have continued our negotiations with other parties that wish to be part of the GNU.
“As the ANC is leading the process of these negotiations, we have had to consider the proposals from other parties and therefore, what we discussed yesterday stands to be reconsidered as you made clear to me that ‘you would not be able to get less than the number of portfolios the DA desired over the line with your Fedex’.”
Ramaphosa said the ANC would continue negotiations with other parties.
I need to advise that the task of setting up government is quite urgent as we cannot continue with this paralysis. I intend to conclude all negotiations and consultations this week. Until then, I remain open to having further discussions with you,” Ramaphosa said.
