News24 | COALITION NATION | DA’s federal council greenlights party to form a government
The DA says it will continue to negotiate with other parties to form a government. (@ourda/X)
The DA’s federal council unanimously endorsed a resolution that it would continue with negotiations to form a government.The federal council met on Monday and Tuesday morning.The DA says its aim is to form “stable governments that can ensure a better tomorrow for all of South Africa’s people”.As the National Assembly’s first sitting on Friday, where a president must be elected, draws ever closer, the DA’s federal council has unanimously endorsed a resolution affirming it would continue negotiating with other parties to form a government.
The party’s federal council met on Monday and Tuesday morning, following which spokesperson Solly Malatsi issued a statement.
He said the council “unanimously endorsed a resolution affirming the mandate of federal leader John Steenhuisen and the party’s negotiating team to continue with the process towards the formation of governments at national and provincial levels with hung legislatures, in order to safeguard the Constitution, ensure stability, and generate economic growth”.
“The federal council also recognised the work done by the negotiating team composed of Helen Zille, Ivan Meyer, Alan Winde, Siviwe Gwarube, Tony Leon and Ryan Coetzee and affirmed that, in terms of the federal constitution, the party’s federal executive will make the final decision relating to coalitions and the formation of governments at national and provincial levels,” added Malatsi.
“The DA continues to engage with other parties with the aim of forming stable governments that can ensure a better tomorrow for all South Africa’s people.”
READ | COALITION NATION: ANC running out of options as EFF’s ‘arrogant’ stance stalls talks
The statement did not specify which parties the DA is talking to, nor did it reveal the content of the talks with other parties.
However, the ANC clearly is part of these talks.
On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the ANC’s national executive committee resolved to work towards forming a government of national unity (GNU).
The DA has precluded working with the EFF and MK Party, and both these parties have indicated it would not form part of a GNU.
On Monday, News24 reported secret talks between the DA and ANC have progressed well, to the extent Cabinet positions and portfolios have been discussed.
The National Assembly will have its first sitting on Friday, barring the Constitutional Court granting the MK Party’s application for an interdict.
At this sitting, the president, speaker and deputy speaker will be elected.
