GNU statement of intent requires all parties to be consulted on any matters - DA

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said that the Government of National Unity (GNU) statement of intent requires all parties to be consulted on any matters including previously passed bills.

The DA has accused the African National Congress (ANC) and President Cyril Ramaphosa of ignoring it and other partners in the GNU when it comes to the signing of bills into law.

This was revealed during a DA media briefing held on Tuesday in Johannesburg

In a recent media statement, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, said clause 19 of the GNU statement of intent did not apply to legislation passed by the previous administration.

The clause says decisions can only be taken once a consensus of 60% of seats in Parliament is met.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said the GNU was not an extension of the previous sixth administration.

"This is a new government, it’s not the same government that picked up the reigns from the last election and carried on. The voters of SA, in the last election, took the ANC’s majority away from them. The seventh administration is a coalition government, so you can’t just simply carry on governing as if the election last year didn’t happen."

So far, four parties in the GNU have expressed unhappiness with the signing of the expropriation bill -the DA, Freedom Front Plus, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and Patriotic Alliance (PA).