Maimane: National convention needed to decide on purpose of GNU

CAPE TOWN - As the wrangling over positions in the Government of National Unity (GNU) continues, Build One South Africa (BOSA) wants the president to call a national convention of all 18 parties represented in Parliament. 
 
BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane said that he'd written to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday morning requesting such a gathering to decide on the purpose, agenda and scope of the GNU. 
 
Maimane said it was evident there was a clear deadlock between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) over government positions and access to state power.

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"These parties need to urgently convene in order to devise a plan of what the next administration is going to look like. That plan needs to take elements coming from the National Development Plan and ultimately the inputs of South Africans." 
 
Maimane said that a national convention offered the most democratic and transparent way to agree on the composition of a new national government that was values and delivery-based. 
 
"The government that is established can execute that plan with the right individuals serving in Cabinet for that plan, or alternatively that Parliament plays its oversight role to ensure that plan is held to."
 
Maimane said that if this did not happen, current GNU negotiations would merely be about haggling for positions. 
 
BOSA has not joined the ten parties currently forming the GNU.