'We broke bread together': Ramaphosa upbeat about GNU despite differences

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says the Government of National Unity (GNU) is presiding over an era that’s pregnant with possibilities.

Just two and a half months old, Ramaphosa said he’d been speaking glowingly about the new formation because he believed in what the 10 parties could achieve together.

He said both the politics of the country and government itself had stabilised.

Ramaphosa shrugged off the African National Congress' (ANC) defeat at the polls and is forging ahead with his new political partners.

Speaking to journalists at Parliament on Thursday after their first dinner together at Tuynhuys on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa was upbeat their differences can be ironed out.

He’s expected to make a controversial move on Friday morning by signing into law a contentious education bill that doesn’t have the buy-in from all GNU partners.

“We broke bread together and we were able to talk about a variety of issues, including also how we should function, and the number of issues that we discussed are issues that will empower us to continue working as a united collective in leading this country forward.”

Ramaphosa believes there’s widespread support for the GNU among ordinary South Africans, even if they don’t all fully understand how the compact works.

“Of course, we still need to explain to our people what animal this is, and as we explain, the people get to grips with it, and they understand better, and they appreciate the efforts we are making.”