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“The result of the election has made plain that the people of South Africa expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs.” “This is not a government of national unity, this is a grand coalition between the ANC and white monopoly capital,” he said. The EFF, United Democratic Movement, African Transformation Movement and other small parties on Friday morning agreed to challenge Ramaphosa’s election after Malema was given a cold shoulder by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula, sources said.
The constitutional court last month agreed to hear an application by the EFF in which it argues that the chamber’s rejection of the report was irrational because the facts, and the rules of parliament, left no room for a reprieve for Ramaphosa. The nine-page document states that the government “shall take decisions in accordance with the established practice of consensus”.
The agreement recognises that appointing the cabinet will be Ramaphosa’s prerogative but says that in doing so he must take into account the electoral outcomes and in consultation with the leaders of other parties in the coalition. Inkatha Freedom Party Velenkosini Hlabisa solemnly rose to second the nomination, thereby confirming the party’s intent to join a coalition Ramaphosa calls a government of national unity.
The draft motion proposes that the chamber “acknowledges that the Independent Panel report is still an authoritative report on the matter, and that any failure by parliament to process the report further by establishing an Impeachment committee would be an abrogation of the duties bestowed upon parliament by the Constitution”.Didiza calmly told Shivambu that the seventh parliament will in due course consider how to handle the draft motion.
By Friday evening, only the ANC and the DA had formally endorsed the nine-page statement of intent to form a coalition government. The document carried the signatures of ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula and the chairperson of the DA’s federal executive, Helen Zille. The party’s deputy leader, Floyd Shivambu, argued that rule 7.3 of the proceedings was unconstitutional in that it did not provide for party observers when ballots were counted.
After more to and fro of this kind, incoming ANC chief whip Mdu Ntuli proposed that the chief whips of parties observe counting to allay any concerns in this regard. Zondo agreed. The vote in favour of Boyce was carried by the ANC, Inkatha Freedom Party, Democratic Alliance and National Freedom Party coalition, with only the EFF’s two MPs backing Dirks.
In terms of the accord, Democratic Alliance MP Annelie Lotriet will be nominated as deputy speaker, with the support of the ANC. This is a reference to a pact that would include the Economic Freedom Fighters and uMkhonto weSizwe party. The agreement sees parties commit to a list of priorities, with rapid economic growth and job creation and combating poverty at the top the list, and alleviating poverty to create a more just society close behind.
Former sport, arts, culture and recreation MEC Morakane Mosupyoe was also elected unopposed as speaker for the Gauteng legislature. Mosupyoe’s nomination was seconded by uMkhonto weSizwe party.The ANC received only 34.76% of the provincial votes last month, necessitating a coalition government in Gauteng.
In terms of the agreement, the DA would vote for the ANC’s Thoko Didiza as speaker of the assembly, while the ANC would back the nomination of the DA’s Annelie Lotriet as deputy speaker. “The major sticking points were the concept of proportionality and the concept of sufficient consensus. Those were the two sticking points,” she stressed.
Zille described taking the decision to go into the executive as a momentous one for the official opposition, not taken lightly.“This is a huge step for us. When you cross a Rubicon, for better or for worse, and we will have to see which one it is, you have a lot of introspection, no question.” These details will still be thrashed out in coming days, he said. However, the ANC wants the DA to come into cabinet.
Poyo-Dlwati said that she would not entertain a debate on the matter, but adjourned the house to prepare for the vote, saying she would address the issue when the session resumed. A deal was reached, as the inaugural sitting of the National Assembly got underway, that the position would instead be filled by the ANC’s Thoko Didiza. The deputy speaker will be a member of the DA.
DA chief negotatior Helen Zille rushed out of the chamber and took up a seat outside, texting on her phone., with no agreement in place as politicians began piling into the Cape Town Convention Centre, where the assembly was sitting. Smaller opposition parties in Parliament have accused the ANC of using the government of national unity to disguise their alliance with the DA and IFP.The parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, the United African Transformation, and the African Transformation Movement have formed what they call a Progressive Caucus.
On Friday, Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks called on the ANC to meet with the Progressive Caucus because the GNU was a “smokescreen”. “They should all consider a national front. We cannot return to white rule. There will be a bloodbath,” Hendricks said. The parties said they had a right to form an integral part of the discussions that would develop a government of national unity, and in ensuring the creation of an effective Parliament.“It is down to the wire,” one told M&G 20 minutes before the sitting was due to start.
During today’s sitting Chief Justice Zondo will preside over the sitting and the swearing in of all the designated members present at the sitting. Chief Justice Zondo calls for the nomination of candidates for election as Speaker of the NA and will announce the names of the person duly nominated.
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