ANC Labels DA’s Demand for 12 Cabinet Positions and a DP Role in GNU as ‘Outrageous’

(The Post News)- As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to announce his new cabinet, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is pushing for substantial public representation, demanding at least 10 of its MPs be in charge of key economic portfolios, and also appointing party leader John Steenhuisen as deputy president of the Government of National Unity (GNU).
 
In a letter to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula dated June 23, 2023, Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chair Helen Zille informed Mbalula that her party wanted around 12 ministerial positions in the GNU and the deputy president position.
 
The DA is one of 10 parties that are part of the GNU following the recent general elections.
 
Earlier, Mbalula wrote a letter to DA leader John Steenhuisen dated June 22, 2024, proposing that the DA take six cabinet ministers and seven deputy minister positions in the government of national unity (GNU).
 
 
Mbalula emphasised the ANC’s determination to establish a GNU based on “genuine inclusiveness” and “promotion of the national interest,”  in line with the principles outlined in the Statement of Intent signed by the parties.
 
He said the proposal for six ministerial posts was based on a “fair and reasonable manner of determining the number of ministerial posts to be held by each political party,”  conforming with the rules of clause 16 of the Statement of Intent.
 
In his letter to Steenhuisen, Mbalula said the positions of minister and deputy minister for the ANC, IFP, and smaller parties would be decided after further consultations.
 
The ANC has also proposed positions in the National Council Provinces as part of GNU cooperation, reflecting the ANC’s majority in this body.
 
In response, Zille outlined the conditions for the party to join the GNU in a letter dated June 23, 2024. 
 
Zille stressed that the DA’s decision to join the GNU hinged on its ability to bring about substantive change, not simply being in power.
 
Zille said the DA’s proposed allocation of Cabinet seats was a clear and fair way of implementing clause 16 of the Statement of Intent.
 
“It is clear that the allocation of positions in the Cabinet can only commence with considering the comparative electoral size of the parties participating in government. Governments are made up of parties participating in government. They are not composed of opposition parties; that’s what Parliament is for,” she said.
 
The DA chose the following portfolios:
 justice, crime prevention, and security.
 
International Cooperation, Trade, and Security.
 
Economic Sectors: Investment, Employment, and Infrastructure Development.
 
Social Protection, Community, and Human Development.
 
Governance, State Capacity, and Institutional Development.
 
Zille stated that directors-general (DGs) in departments reporting to the DA ministers should be selected by a committee of the DA’s ministers and submitted to the president for approval.
 
The DA said it could only agree to give up the vice presidential position if it were replaced by a minister in the presidency and a deputy minister of finance.
 
For the positions, the DA wants a DP who is also selected as the Leader of Government Business and partakes fully in the policy development and monitoring responsibilities of the Presidency.
 
Deputy Minister of Finance, who partakes thoroughly in the budget development.
 
DA Director of Communications Richard Newton confirmed the genuineness and said that some of the demands had already been worked out by the parties.
 
In response to the DA’s demands, the ANC described them as outrageous, noting that no single party can blackmail the GNU.
 
This came after the DA’s demands were leaked to the media and social media.
 
“Negotiating through disclosing demands to the media is an act of bad faith, and this procedure will not help the cause of any party, solely the President has the final say on the appointment of his Cabinet. The GNU cannot be held to ransom by any single party,” the ANC said.
 
In a statement, the ANC confirmed that the second stage of the formation of the GNU was underway and that the expected announcement of Ramaphosa’s cabinet positions was imminent.