Nokukhanya Mntambo9 June 2024 | 7:52

Some smaller parties want Zondo to facilitate meeting on formation of new govt

The parties are seeking an urgent meeting on the government of national unity, with UDM’s leader penning a letter to Zondo on behalf of five other parties this week

Some smaller parties want Zondo to facilitate meeting on formation of new govt

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the national results operations centre on 2 June 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Some smaller political parties are seeking assistance from Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to navigate the formation of a new government.

The parties are seeking an urgent meeting on the government of national unity (GNU).

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The United Democratic Movement (UDM)’s leader, Bantu Holomisa, penned a letter to Zondo on behalf of five other parties this week.

This comes after the African National Congress (ANC) announced plans to constitute a government with almost all parties with seats at the National Assembly.

A breakdown of the seat allocation in the National Assembly by party. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News

A breakdown of the seat allocation in the National Assembly by party. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), African Transformation Movement (ATM), Build One South Africa (BOSA), United Africans Transformation (UAT), and UDM have all co-signed the letter to the Office of the Chief Justice.

In the two-page letter, dated 7 June, the parties have called for a meeting that they said would help foster a transparent collaborative agenda for the country.

In the absence of any party winning an outright majority at the polls almost two weeks ago, these six parties believe a framework needs to be established for inclusive decision-making.

As the custodian of the Constitution, they’ve described Zondo as best suited to facilitate the meeting, which would include all other parties in the National Assembly as well.

Zondo’s office is yet to respond to the request by the six parties.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have already shown early signs of coming on board, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has rejected the proposal in its current form.