GNU negotiations ‘a waste of time’, says civic movement
The Save South Africa Civic Movement says the majority of South Africans see the negotiations to cobble together a government of national unity as a waste of time.
President Cyril Ramaphosa intends to conclude negotiations with the parties within the government of national unity this week before appointing his cabinet.
Ramaphosa is taking longer than expected to unveil his seventh administration government due to tensions between the ANC and the DA.
It is understood that Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen have had several meetings since the parties agreed to form a government of national unity.
However, the major sticking point remains the number of ministries demanded by the DA.
Campaign Director for Save South Africa Civic Movement Tebogo Mashilompane says it is not a secret that the two parties are fighting for strategic ministerial positions.
"If it were not for the ministerial positions, the negotiations would have been concluded by now.
"Save South Africa Civic Movement would like to remind all the members of the so-called GNU that only the president has the constitutional power to appoint ministers of his or her choice.”
Ten parties, including the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, and Patriotic Alliance, have signed onto the government of national unity.
Mashilompane says the parties within the GNU should not use the ANC's failure to win an outright majority as an opportunity to exploit other parties.
"It is the president who decides who gets which seat, not the political parties. We are therefore calling on all members of GNU to put the country first and not their personal interests.”
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