ANC SG Fikile Mbalula addressing media today about Gauteng provincial cabinet.
The African National Congress (ANC ) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has reiterated that the Democratic Alliance (DA) must refrain from being pompous and negotiating in bad faith.
Mbalula has instructed Gauteng Premier Panyaza to announce his multi-party provincial cabinet tonight at 20:00pm during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Mbalula said that should the DA fail to come to the party, Lesufi's Cabinet would be announced regardless. "We are unable to accede to the DA’s latest proposals, as we have indicated throughout negotiations. The DA is not the only party we are negotiating with on the setting up of the government of provincial unity. The ANC reiterates its firm held conviction that the task of setting up government in the economic heartland of our country is both urgent and overdue. It would be responsible to continue with this impasse."
This follows disagreements between the ANC and DA over provincial cabinet’s positions which led to the postponements of Panyaza’s cabinet announcements twice. Mbalula who didn’t mince his words said Lesufi must announce his cabinet without the DA because South Africans cannot be held ransom by DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille who is counterrevolutionary and selfish.
“We assure South Africans that the soon to be appointed Gauteng Government of Provincial Unity will be expected to immediately get down to work on the pressing issues facing the Gauteng province and our people,” Mbalula said.
He also confirmed that ANC Gauteng would not be working with Jacob Zuma’s new political toy uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
“EFF and MK Party say they don’t want to be part of GNU [government of national unity],” said Mbalula.
On Tuesday, Zille said the DA is content to take their seats as the opposition if a desirable deal was not concluded.
“We don’t mind being in the opposition. It is our comfort zone,” said Zille.
The Gauteng premier said the announcement of MECs will definitely happen tonight without any postponements.
“We are going to announce a Cabinet that represents the citizens of Gauteng,” said the Gauteng Premier.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi ready to announce his Cabinet without DA.
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