Zille on Lesufi's Cabinet delays: DA ‘not prepared to be co-opted by ANC’s terms alone’

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) claims the African National Congress (ANC) is blatantly ignoring the guidelines in the Government of National Unity (GNU)’s statement of intent.

Clause 16 of the statement states the government must reflect the inclusiveness of all political parties in the GNU by allocating positions based on the outcomes of the recent elections.

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During a media briefing on Tuesday night, the DA said the ANC was planning on excluding smaller parties from Gauteng Premier Panyanza Lesufi’s Cabinet.

The DA is of the view that the ANC, during negotiations, has made an offering that contravenes clause 16 of GNU’s statement of intent.

The party said it was hoping Lesufi’s Cabinet would include five ANC members, three of the DA, one of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and the last position to a smaller political party.

But the DA’s federal chairperson, Helen Zille, insisted the ANC was not open to this proposal, countering it with an offer that goes against the GNU’s principles.

“We are not prepared to be co-opted by the ANC’s terms alone, acting as if the ANC still has the overall majority in Gauteng, which it does not.”

Zille said the DA also proposed to chair six committees in the Gauteng legislature, but the ANC would not budge.