Govt of national unity: BOSA's Maimane wants meeting with all parties in Parly for transparent talks on future of govt
Mmusi Maimane said that an agenda was needed before decisions could be made on whether to commit to or reject a government of national unity.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane at the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)’s national Results Operations Centre (ROC) on 1 June 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Political wrangling is expected to rev up a gear this weekend, as parties look to find common ground to form a government of national unity.
While initial indications show no broad consensus for this route, the African National Congress (ANC) with its meager 40% majority has made it clear this is its preferred option over a coalition government.
While the threshold for participation is unclear at this stage, smaller political parties are not about to be left out in the cold.
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While all eyes are on the four biggest opposition parties to make their moves, smaller parties are also weighing in.
Mmusi Maimane’s Build One South Africa (BOSA) said that he wanted the Chief Justice to call a meeting of all 18 represented parties in Parliament to hold transparent talks about the future of government.
Maimane said that an agenda was needed before decisions could be made on whether to commit to or reject a government of national unity.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Rise Mzansi said that it too would be meeting over the weekend to discuss its position.
Spokesperson, Gugu Ndima: "South Africans expect all their leaders to demonstrate maturity, and a willingness to work together to prevent paralysis in the face of enormous national challenges and to ensure there's a democratic accountability in any solution found through dialogue."
While the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said that in principle they were on board with the proposal, the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) is not keen.
But ultimately, it will come down to the details of what the ANC puts on the table.