The ANC has limited its choices to forming a government of national unity, says Fikile Mbalula
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula stated on Thursday that the party has narrowed its options to forming a government of national unity instead of a coalition government.
This week, the ANC has been in discussions with various political parties to form a government after failing to secure an outright majority in last week's elections, a first since 1994.
Speaking to the media outside Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, where the party's national executive committee (NEC) is meeting, Mbalula mentioned that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Jacob Zuma, has been particularly challenging to negotiate with.
"It has been very difficult to try and reach out, and we drew a blank. It will depend on this meeting whether we will still meet them, but, like we said, we are open to talking to everybody," he said. "It's very difficult to talk to people there because when you talk to them, they tell you that they are still waiting for uBaba [Zuma] and you can't find uBaba, but we are open to speaking to the MK party."
Mbalula added that the ANC is considering different governance models rather than focusing on specific parties.
There was a perception that there had been an agreement to work with the Democratic Alliance (DA), but that is not the case, Mbalula clarified. The ANC has certain scenarios, and they have narrowed these down to a government of national unity (GNU).
Negotiations are guided by a readiness to compromise and to accept the goodwill of the people. "It is not just a question of talking about a coalition without having a model; it is a question of saying, do we have a model in this country through a national dialogue that will take South Africa forward preserving and safeguarding the interest of political parties in a particular way, without a political demise and identity of political parties?"
"Talks about talks continue and we are now moving to a stage, having received a mandate from the NEC, to hold hard negotiations where we look at the options including the technicalities. The GNU that we talk about might be different from 1994, so the devil is in the details. The technical team in terms of negotiating will receive a broad mandate."
Sources told the Mail & Guardian that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his closest allies in the ANC believe that the only route to stability is through a working arrangement with the DA. However, there is opposition within the party regarding the president's preference for the DA over the EFF or the MK party.
Before the NEC meeting on Thursday, a group of ANC protesters led by Thuthuzile Zuma declared that the DA was not an option the ANC should consider. Mbalula described the protest as "unfortunate" and misplaced, emphasizing the need for sober minds.
"There has not been any position, and the position will be derived from the NEC, and the president will pronounce on that at the end."
The ANC has taken the unusual step of allowing the media to attend the closing address by Ramaphosa, during which the party's decision will be made public.
This week, the ANC has been in discussions with various political parties to form a government after failing to secure an outright majority in last week's elections, a first since 1994.
Speaking to the media outside Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, where the party's national executive committee (NEC) is meeting, Mbalula mentioned that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Jacob Zuma, has been particularly challenging to negotiate with.
"It has been very difficult to try and reach out, and we drew a blank. It will depend on this meeting whether we will still meet them, but, like we said, we are open to talking to everybody," he said. "It's very difficult to talk to people there because when you talk to them, they tell you that they are still waiting for uBaba [Zuma] and you can't find uBaba, but we are open to speaking to the MK party."
Mbalula added that the ANC is considering different governance models rather than focusing on specific parties.
There was a perception that there had been an agreement to work with the Democratic Alliance (DA), but that is not the case, Mbalula clarified. The ANC has certain scenarios, and they have narrowed these down to a government of national unity (GNU).
Negotiations are guided by a readiness to compromise and to accept the goodwill of the people. "It is not just a question of talking about a coalition without having a model; it is a question of saying, do we have a model in this country through a national dialogue that will take South Africa forward preserving and safeguarding the interest of political parties in a particular way, without a political demise and identity of political parties?"
"Talks about talks continue and we are now moving to a stage, having received a mandate from the NEC, to hold hard negotiations where we look at the options including the technicalities. The GNU that we talk about might be different from 1994, so the devil is in the details. The technical team in terms of negotiating will receive a broad mandate."
Sources told the Mail & Guardian that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his closest allies in the ANC believe that the only route to stability is through a working arrangement with the DA. However, there is opposition within the party regarding the president's preference for the DA over the EFF or the MK party.
Before the NEC meeting on Thursday, a group of ANC protesters led by Thuthuzile Zuma declared that the DA was not an option the ANC should consider. Mbalula described the protest as "unfortunate" and misplaced, emphasizing the need for sober minds.
"There has not been any position, and the position will be derived from the NEC, and the president will pronounce on that at the end."
The ANC has taken the unusual step of allowing the media to attend the closing address by Ramaphosa, during which the party's decision will be made public.
