Ramaphosa Announces Cabinet Members and Opens Arms for GNU Partners

President Cyril Ramaphosa preparing to announce his new cabinet members.

(The Post News)- President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to announce his new cabinet after the inauguration ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, June 16.

This comes as the Government of National Unity (GNU) opens its doors to other parties.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has laid out a vision for a government of national unity, echoing the sentiments of 1994, when South Africa first embarked on its democratic journey.

In a move reminiscent of the post-apartheid era’s quest for reconciliation, President Ramaphosa has extended an invitation to other parties to join the GNU, an initiative that has already garnered support from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), GOOD, and Patriotic Alliance (PA), collectively holding 68% of National Assembly seats.

This development marks an important moment in South African politics, as it signifies a move towards greater inclusivity and cooperation among political entities.

In his speech on Friday, June 14, after being elected president, Ramaphosa stated, “The government of national unity that we are constituting. We have been here before; we were here in 1994 when we sought to unite our country and effect reconciliation. We are here now as directed by the votes that our people delivered to that face and this we shall do. This is what I am committed to achieving as the president of the Republic of South Africa.”

He also expressed that the GNU’s formation is not merely a political strategy but a response to the electorate’s mandate—a call for unity and collective effort to uphold constitutional democracy and build a nation for all its people.
The GNU’s priorities are clear: to drive economic inclusion, industrialisation, transformation, and job creation.

It also aims to protect workers’ and women’s rights, improve and extend basic services, and tackle the high cost of living.

Education, skill development, health, the fight against corruption and crime, and a progressive foreign policy are also on the agenda.

However, not everyone shares this optimistic outlook.

Former President Jacob Zuma has criticised the GNU, dismissing it as “nonsense” and arguing that the political conditions have drastically changed since 1994.

Zuma contends that what is being presented as a government of national unity is, in fact, a “white-led unholy alliance” between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Ramaphosa’s ANC.

The inclusion of IFP, GOOD, and PA in the GNU is a testament to Ramaphosa’s vision of a government that transcends party lines for the greater good.
“Our people delivered their votes to that face, and this we shall do,” Ramaphosa assured, acknowledging the responsibility bestowed upon him and his government.

As South Africa gears up for President Ramaphosa’s inauguration and subsequent cabinet announcement, there is an overwhelming sense of anticipation mixed with cautious hope.

The GNU’s open invitation to other parties is seen as an olive branch, extending beyond traditional political boundaries in pursuit of national progress.
The GNU’s expansion and the ANC’s willingness to collaborate signal a new era of governance, one that aspires to reflect the nation’s collective aspirations and address its complex realities.