The negotiations around the formation of the government of national unity showed that South Africans can work together, despite differences
outh Africa’s June negotiations to form a government of national unity were a rollercoaster. Still, they show what is possible when people with vast political differences get around the same table and talk about our shared future.
My database of 253 top online news stories in June from TimesLive, News24 and IOL leaves no doubt about the chief protagonists in these negotiations: the ANC was mentioned 1 054 times in the database and the Democratic Alliance 738 times. Despite this, Bhengu-Motsiri only appeared in the news on 4 to 6 June before the ANC announced that it would pursue a GNU instead of a coalition with one or two parties.
Mbalula wrote to Steenhuisen on 22 June, offering the DA six positions as minister and seven deputy minister slots. Zille wrote back the next day Things have gone differently in Gauteng, though, with talks between the two parties breaking down and ANC Premier Panyaza Lesufi creatingObserving the contrast between the GNU talks and negotiations in Gauteng is instructive. In the national discussions, Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen had each other on speed dial and kept talking until a deal was reached.
Politicians from every party represented in the unity government will need to capitalise on the goodwill that has been created and keep talking to each other to make good collective decisions despite their differences on policy matters.
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