Fatshimetrie: Exclusive interview with John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa
As the country eagerly awaits the imminent announcement of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet, it appears the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants more than double the number of positions the president is offering in the Government of National Unity (GNU). ), led by the ANC.
Leaked correspondence between the two parties reveals how far they were from a deal. Ramaphosa met DA leader John Steenhuisen on Monday, with the ANC offering six ministerial posts and the Blue Party asking for twelve.
In a letter dated June 22, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula offered Steenhuisen six ministerial positions and seven deputy ministerial positions. But this offer was rejected by DA federal council chairwoman Helen Zille in another list of party demands, which was also quietly released into the public domain on the sidelines of talks between the party’s two largest parties. South Africa.
In his letter to the DA, Mbalula highlighted the ANC’s commitment to forming a unity government on the basis of “genuine inclusion” and “promotion of the national interest” in line with the principles set out in the declaration of intent signed by the parties involved.
He said the offer of ministerial positions was based on “a fair and reasonable way of determining the number of cabinet positions each party would be allocated” in accordance with clause 16 of the declaration of intent.
“We consider that the representation of parties should be based on the electoral mandate they received, reflected in the number of seats they hold in the entire National Assembly,” Mbalula said, adding that he There were still “several critical positions within the parliamentary leadership” that the DA should consider in the context of cooperation.
“Our welcome favors the fact that the declaration of intent was signed by more political parties represented in the National Assembly. This development strengthens the stature of the government of national unity. This reflects the principles of national interest and inclusiveness that we both support,” he added.
He also said the ANC welcomed the shared understanding regarding the prerogative of the president to appoint members of the national executive in accordance with the constitution and noted that the DA’s approach to party representation under the GNU was founded on the concept of strict proportionality based on the members of the unity government.
Mbalula’s letter to Steenhuisen said the positions of ministers and deputy ministers for the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party and smaller parties would be determined after further consultations.
The ANC also proposes to integrate positions within the National Council of Provinces within the framework of GNU cooperation, reflecting the ANC majority within this body.
In response, Zille outlined the party’s conditions for joining the GNU in a letter dated June 23, 2024, emphasizing that the DA’s decision to join the GNU depended on its ability to effect substantive change and not just occupy positions. to be able to.
Zille said the DA’s proposed distribution of cabinet positions was a clear and fair way to implement clause 16 of the declaration of intent.
“It is obvious that the distribution of cabinet positions can only begin with a consideration of the relative electoral size of the parties participating in government. Governments, by definition, are composed of the parties participating in government. They are not made up of opposition parties – that’s what parliament is for,” she said.
Zille said it was “fair and reasonable” for the DA to be represented in all cabinet clusters. This would include the ministries of mineral resources and energy, transport, and trade and industry.
She also indicated that her party wanted to have its own preferred candidates as junior ministers in the same ministries where it would have ministers, except in the Finance Ministry, where the DA wanted to have one as junior minister in Enoch Godongwana.
Zille’s letter also requested that when DA ministers are appointed, the current chief executives be ousted on the grounds that the current incumbents may not work well with new DA officials.
In a statement on Monday, the ANC said it was concerned about some parties making “outrageous demands for specific ministerial positions” through the media.
“Initiating negotiations by leaking demands to the media is an act of bad faith, and this practice will not favor any party,” he said, reaffirming that the final decision on cabinet appointments rests with Ramaphosa and stressing that the unity government must not be “held hostage by a single party”.
DA spokesperson Solly Malatsi could not be reached for comment on the tense situation between political parties in South Africa.
This meeting between the DA and the ANC to form the national unity government suggests difficult negotiations and firm positions on both sides. The outcome of this situation remains undecided, but one thing is certain: democracy in South Africa is being tested in this crucial period of formation of the new government.
Ultimately, the ability of political parties to work together for the good of the nation will be critical to South Africa’s future and to meeting the expectations of the South African people for governance and development.
Fatshimetrie will continue to closely monitor these crucial political developments and provide updates on the evolving political situation in South Africa.