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Picture Courtesy: (DA share via X) DA Federal Chairperson, Helen Zille, says the DA will not be dictated by the ANC regarding the Gauteng government executive.
(The Post News)- Gauteng remains the only province without an executive, following the 2024 elections.
This is due to the power-sharing disagreements between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), which have led to the premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, postponing the announcement of his executive twice.
The DA claims that negotiations between the two parties came to a standstill when the ANC proposed to give the DA only portfolios while the ANC holds seven portfolios; however, the DA remains interested in further negotiating if the ANC approaches and treats them with dignity.
During a media briefing held by the DA on Tuesday in Johannesburg, DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille claimed that the ANC is pretending as if it still holds a majority in Gauteng and that the DA refuses to be subjugated by the NAC on their own terms.
Zille said that the DA cannot be held captive in a provincial unity government if terms are set by one party.
She added that even though she believes that they have made some progress, which is a positive step, they are yet to reach a consensus, and there is still a huge gap between the two parties.
According to Zille, regarding the clauses about proportionality, inclusivity, and representing the will of the voters, the DA proposed that the ANC get five portfolios, while the DA gets four and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) gets one.
Zille stressed that the DA’s proposal would have been fair, and they are not fighting over numbers; however, they are saying that certain values must be upheld for the numbers to make logical sense.
Zille claimed that, up until now, the ANC has indicated that it would give the DA up to three portfolios.
However, the ANC did not clarify the number of portfolios it aims to keep for itself or the number of portfolios it aims to give to the other parties that are part of the coalition government in Gauteng province.
The DA Gauteng leader, Solly Msimanga, spoke to the media while visiting Temba in Hammanskraal, and he said that it is disappointing that the two parties’ failure to reach an agreement has led to the delay in the government’s programme and decision-making.
He added that the deadlock in negotiations between the ANC and the DA on the formation of a government of provincial unity will have a detrimental effect on the province’s ability to provide services.
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