Shivambu: EFF won't entertain ANC's Government of National Unity if it involves DA, FF+

JOHANNESBURG - Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy leader Floyd Shivambu says the party will not entertain the African National Congress (ANC)’s proposal for a Government of National Unity (GNU) if it involves the Democratic Alliance (DA) or Freedom Front Plus.
 
On Thursday, the ANC announced a GNU as its preferred coalition structure after failing to retain its majority.
 
The red berets were the first to reject the ANC’s proposal moments after it was announced.
 
The central command team, which is the EFF’s highest decision-making body, held a meeting in Sandton on Friday to discuss its approach to coalitions.

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EFF leader Julius Malema is often labelled as a flip-flopper, describing his tendency to change his mind at any given time.
 
Over a year ago, Malema told the BBC that the EFF supports a GNU.

“We need a Government of National Unity constituted by all of us who are not driven by the interest of political parties but by the interests of South Africa,” he said at the time.
 
The EFF, however, has made an about-turn, describing the proposal of a GNU as a gimmick.
 
Shivambu said the party cannot share a bed with what he described as white capitalist organisations.
 
“We do not want to form part of a government with representatives of the white colonial and apartheid system.”
 
After the 2016 local government elections, the EFF governed the city of Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni with the DA.

EFF TO APPROACH MK PARTY FOR KZN COALITION TALKS

Meanwhile, the red berets are pushing to form a coalition with the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party to govern KwaZulu-Natal.

The province was hung after political parties failed to secure a majority victory following the recent national and provincial elections.

However, former president Jacob Zuma’s MK Party managed to scoop the highest votes in the province - leading the pack with 45% of the vote.

“We will of course have an independent engagement with MK to constitute government in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Our view is that MK should lead the government of Kwa-Zulu Natal because they had the highest number people who voted for them in the province.

“It would be unethical politically and immoral to deny the people of Kwa-Zulu Natal to be led by a party which a majority of them supported.”