By Sihle Mavuso
As negotiations over the new government of national unity drag on, the DA has laid out the departments it wants.
In a letter to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula dated 23 June, Helen Zille – federal chairperson of the party – explained why they want those positions.
Among their requests is the resources and energy ministry, ministry of transport (with Transnet reallocated to this portfolio) and the ministry of trade, industry and competition.
All in all, the DA wants 12 departments with deputy ministers in all these departments. They want directors-general in departments reporting to DA ministers to be selected by panels consisting of DA ministers.
Names would be submitted to the president for his approval, but such approval could not reasonably be withheld.
“The contracts of all current DGs would also need to be reconsidered in light of our concern that incumbents may not be amenable to direction from DA ministers, especially given the ANC’s cadre deployment policy,” reads part of the letter from Zille to Mbalula.
The DA also wants some tenders issued recently to be reviewed. “It is obviously not possible to effect change in a context where recent decisions by the previous government are rendered irreversible,” the letter reads.
And the DA calls for a technical “clearing house”, consisting of a representative from each participating party, to resolve differences over policy and other decisions of government by consensus, before they become a source of conflict in the Cabinet.
Zille also reminded Mbalula that her party’s participation in governments in Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal depends on their participation in government at national level.
“We would like to reiterate once again that we remain fully committed to participating in governments in which we would be able to effect positive change for the people of South Africa.
“Our country faces a unique opportunity now to implement programmes that would boost job creation, alleviate poverty, provide security, education, healthcare and social support our people so desperately need. We stand ready to deliver on these imperatives with you and other signatories to the Statement of Intent.”
In a statement released at about 2pm today, the ANC said negotiating while leaking demands to the media is an act of bad faith.
Pictured above: Helen Zille.
Source: X
