In a battle of political titans, talks between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have hit a formidable brick wall. The ANC's offer of a mere three Cabinet posts to the DA in President Cyril Ramaphosa's government of national unity (GNU) has sparked outrage within the blue party. With the DA believing they deserve at least 10 of the 30 cabinet posts, tensions have reached a boiling point, threatening to derail the entire GNU.
DA leader John Steenhuisen, known for his unwavering determination, was initially willing to compromise and ask for seven Cabinet posts, as a concession to the smaller parties that recently joined the GNU. However, the ANC remains stubborn, refusing to make this concession and potentially sidelining the DA. The fear of being marginalized has prompted the DA to consider withdrawing from the governments of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
"The threat came amid fears in the DA that the ANC wanted to sideline it from the GNU with the joining of several smaller parties to this agreement last week," revealed an inside source.
While the DA argues that the ANC, DA, and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) are the founding members of the GNU and, therefore, have the authority to determine who else can enter, the ANC interprets that the existing 10 signatories form the foundation.
This impasse could result in the DA withdrawing from the GNU and once again assuming the role of the official opposition in Parliament. The recent addition of Songezo Zibi's Rise Mzansi to the GNU, along with the Freeedom Front Plus (FF Plus), the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Good, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), and the IFP, has brought the total number of seats occupied by the GNU to 285 in Parliament.
The DA expressed its fury during a meeting with the ANC, presenting a mathematical calculation that demonstrated how the party, with its 21.8% support, should be entitled to at least 10 of the 31 Cabinet posts. The ANC, with its 40% support, could claim 17 posts, while the IFP would expect two.
"The party [DA] is furious about the arrogant way in which the ANC has conducted these negotiations. It’s subverting the outcome of the election by refusing to share power with opposition parties. The voters have clearly indicated that they want real power-sharing between parties," expressed an anonymous source.
During the meeting, the DA made an unprecedented demand for its leader, John Steenhuisen, to assume the position of deputy president. The DA argued that if the ANC claimed the positions of president and speaker as the largest minority party in the GNU, then the DA, as the second-largest party, should have the deputy president position. This claim aligns with international norms observed in coalition governments.
In response to the deadlock, the DA contemplated withdrawing from the GNU but agreed to keep channels of communication open. Negotiations are set to continue today, with the DA suspecting that the ANC's offer of a limited number of Cabinet posts is a deliberate strategy to diminish its influence in the GNU.
The DA has expressed interest in managing crucial portfolios, including Communication and Digital Technology, Trade and Industry, Transport, Public Service and Administration, Water and Sanitation, Local Government, and Health. Additionally, the party aims to secure the deputy minister positions in Finance and Health.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, however, denied the existence of a deadlock, stating that discussions with the DA and other political parties were ongoing. While acknowledging that strong concerns had been raised by both parties, Mbalula emphasized that efforts were being made to find a resolution.
"We hope to reach a solution to those issues very soon. We’re working around the clock on these matters, so it’s nothing untoward. The president will engage with leaders of political parties, and that’s where we are now," Mbalula clarified.
Helen Zille, the DA's Federal Executive Chairperson, emphasized the importance of honoring the spirit of cooperation outlined in the agreement. She urged the ANC to do the same, underlining that the DA's decisions would be based on the ANC's approach to the proposed GNU.
"The purpose is to ensure that we’re able to make a positive difference in the lives of South Africans. We’ll only enter a government if we’re in a position to achieve that. We continue to negotiate in good faith with the ANC to achieve that outcome," Zille affirmed.
The ANC has indicated its willingness to relinquish portfolios such as Water and Sanitation, Energy, Local Government, and Trade and Industry. However, it remains uncertain which of these positions were offered to the DA. With the inclusion of several other parties and the need to accommodate allies from the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the ANC faces a challenging task of distributing Cabinet posts among the various stakeholders involved.
If the ANC succeeds informing a GNU without the DA, it could potentially lead to a more dominant ANC-led government, raising concerns about power consolidation and limited opposition influence. However, the negotiations are still ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether the ANC and DA can find a resolution and move forward with the formation of a government of national unity.
