The political landscape in South Africa is buzzing with excitement and intrigue as President Cyril Ramaphosa's long-awaited government of national unity (GNU) appears to be inching closer to reality. While the dust settles on the marathon negotiations between the ANC and the DA, a new twist in the tale has emerged, adding a layer of complexity and uncertainty to the process.
The coveted agriculture portfolio, once a bone of contention, has been offered to the DA as a concession, according to City Press. This offer, made by Ramaphosa himself, comes after he withdrew his initial offer of the trade and industry portfolio in exchange for the less prestigious tourism portfolio. This dramatic back-and-forth highlights the delicate dance of power and compromise that has characterized these negotiations.
However, the drama doesn't end there. The EFF, led by Julius Malema, has thrown a wrench into the works, expressing its willingness to join the GNU – but only on the condition that the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) are excluded. This bold move has sparked a flurry of speculation and raised questions about the EFF's motives and the potential impact on the GNU's formation.
Adding to the intrigue, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has also expressed interest in joining the GNU, further complicating the already intricate negotiations. The MKP, a party with roots in the armed wing of the ANC, has been vocal in its desire to govern KwaZulu-Natal, and its spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, has stated that the party's presence in the GNU would render the DA's involvement unnecessary.
"If we can reach an agreement with the ANC, there won’t be a need for the DA to be present because we can co-govern the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the nation together. Our combined numbers are enough to form a government," Ndhlela told City Press.
The MKP's ambitions have also caught the attention of former President Jacob Zuma, who, according to sources, has reached out to ANC leaders to discuss the possibility of forming a government together.
"He called two or three leaders to make his intentions clear about forming a government together. The MKP seems to have abandoned its call for the ANC to fire Ramaphosa before it would engage with us," revealed a source close to the negotiations.
The MKP's desire to govern KwaZulu-Natal, coupled with Zuma's involvement, adds a new dimension to the GNU negotiations, raising questions about the potential for regional power struggles and the influence of past political figures.
Despite the late entries of the EFF and the MKP, the ANC, through its interim spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi, has maintained its willingness to engage with all political parties represented in Parliament.
“The ANC’s never redlined a single political party. It’s not ANC policy that party X, for example, isn’t allowed to talk to us. It’s the rest of the parties who have those views about each other,” Godlimpi stated.
The DA, meanwhile, is expected to approve the offer of six Cabinet portfolios, including agriculture and rural development, forestry, fisheries and environmental affairs, home affairs, basic education, public works and infrastructure, and communication and digital technology. The party has also been offered six deputy minister positions in various portfolios.
The DA's acceptance of the offer comes after a tense back-and-forth with the ANC, including a near withdrawal from the GNU negotiations. The DA's initial demand for nine portfolios was met with resistance from the ANC, which initially offered only three. Ultimately, the negotiations settled on a compromise, with the DA securing six portfolios.
The negotiations have also seen a change in the composition of the agriculture portfolio, with land reform no longer included. This decision, reportedly supported by both the ANC and the DA, has raised questions about the future of land reform in South Africa.
The negotiations were initially marked by a wide gap between the ANC and the DA's expectations. The ANC offered the DA a mere three Cabinet portfolios, which was promptly rejected. The DA argued that, proportionally, they were entitled to at least 10 Cabinet posts and insisted on Steenhuisen being appointed as deputy president. However, after several rounds of negotiations, a middle ground was reached, resulting in the offer of six Cabinet portfolios and the crucial position of deputy finance minister to the DA.
Enoch Godongwana, who previously held the position of finance minister, will be reinstated in this role. Reappointing Godongwana is seen as a gesture of continuity and a means to appease both the market and the business sector. Godongwana is regarded as a "bridge-builder" within the DA, and his retention is expected to counter any negative reactions.
In addition to the finance portfolio, the ANC emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity in the economic cluster of the Cabinet. The portfolios of international relations and cooperation, to be held by Naledi Pandor, and defense, to be headed by Thandi Modise, are among those deemed critical for the ANC's transformation agenda. Pandor and Modise, who did not secure parliamentary seats, are likely to be Ramaphosa's discretionary Cabinet appointments.
While the final composition of the GNU Cabinet awaits its official announcement, the negotiations between the ANC, DA, EFF, and MKP signal a significant step toward a government of national unity.
The drama surrounding the GNU negotiations has been a rollercoaster ride, with twists and turns that have kept the nation on the edge of its seat. While the final composition of the Cabinet remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the road to a government of national unity has been paved with compromise, ambition, and a healthy dose of political intrigue.
The stage is set for a new chapter in South African politics, and the nation waits with bated breath to see how this complex political drama unfolds.
