By Zukile Majova
Today, the most important meeting of the ANC national executive committee (NEC) since 1994 is underway in Boksburg.
The ANC bigwigs are meeting to discuss the results of the 29 May elections, in which the ANC’s share of the national vote decreased from 57% to 40%.
The 87-member NEC is the highest decision-making body of the ANC between national elective conferences.
The party now desperately needs partners to reach the 50% plus one threshold required by law to form a government.
Not since the pre-1994 Codesa talks that ushered in a new dawn in South Africa have talks about the formulation of a future government been so significant for the nation.
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula told a media conference this morning that all the political parties they have met are committed to forming a stable coalition government.
“The NEC will be dealing with the important matter of how we are going to constitute the government post the elections,” he said.
“When we are done later today, the closing address of the president will be open to the media and South Africans, and you will then get it from the horse’s mouth as to what has been decided.”
Here is what has happened for far:
- A delegation of ANC NEC members, office bearers and veterans led by former president Kgalema Motlanthe has met the DA, IFP, PA and the EFF to discuss a future coalition government.
- ANC officials have met to prepare a report for the ANC national working committee (NWC) meeting.
- The NWC, comprised of the ANC’s top seven and the top 20 members of the NEC, met on Wednesday and decided it would be best to form a government of national unity, which would include the DA.
- The national executive committee of ANC alliance partners Cosatu, and the SACP met on Wednesday and resolved that the DA must not be included in the ANC-led coalition government.
- On Thursday, the extended ANC NEC met to decide on the type of coalition government the ANC envisages for South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the ANC NEC will be broadcast to the nation on Thursday at 7pm.
From Friday onwards, the ANC delegation will re-invite preferred political parties to craft a final agreement about the composition of the coalition government that will rule South Africa for the next five years.
Although some ANC members and alliance partners, Cosatu, the SACP, and Sanco, are widely rejecting it, the inclusion of the DA in a future government is regarded as the best option for economic growth, investor confidence, and job creation.
Pictured above: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image source: X
