Pretoria – The political landscape in South Africa took a dramatic turn this week as the United African Transformation (UAT) announced its withdrawal from the Government of National Unity (GNU) negotiations, accusing the African National Congress (ANC) of negotiating in bad faith.
In a statement released on Friday, UAT head of communications, Mighty Mabule, expressed the party's deep disappointment, highlighting their commitment to progressive leadership and good governance. "We strongly advocate for economic development and the establishment of programmes and initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and job creation to address poverty and other socio-economic challenges affecting our country," Mabule stated.
He emphasised the importance of land reform in their vision for a prosperous South Africa. "Central to this vision is the role of land in the economy," he added.
The UAT's decision to withdraw comes after a series of meetings with the ANC regarding the formation of the GNU. "We received an invitation to participate in the GNU formation talks with the ANC. Our decision to meet and discuss the statement of intent with them was in line with our goal of promoting democratic governance and accountability for the betterment of the lives of the people," Mabule explained.
The first meeting took place on 22 June, followed by a second on 25 June, where both parties reached an agreement. "We signed into the GNU, and an agreement was reached by both parties stating that no party should issue a media statement until all parties have received a signed statement from the secretary-general office of the ANC," Mabule revealed.
However, the UAT claims that the ANC has since disregarded this agreement, leaving them in the dark. "We would like to state that to date, we have not received signed documents from the ANC secretary-general's office, and it took us by surprise to hear the President of the Republic announcing that UAT is part of the GNU. This happened during his announcement of cabinet," Mabule said, expressing their frustration at being excluded from the process.
The UAT's decision to withdraw has sent shockwaves through the political arena, raising concerns about the future of the GNU and the stability of the government. The party's accusations of bad faith negotiations have also cast a shadow over the ANC's commitment to inclusivity and transparency in the formation of the government.
"We're a principled and procedural organisation that stands for the development and dignity of Africans. We can’t accept such unfair and bad treatment by the ANC," Mabule declared, leaving no room for doubt about the UAT's firm stance.
The ANC is yet to respond to the UAT's allegations.
