Ramaphosa to convene a national dialogue to consolidate GNU

PRETORIA - As the African National Congress (ANC) navigates a new way of governing with opposition partners, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would convene a national dialogue to consolidate the new government of national unity (GNU).

Last year, his deputy, Paul Mashatile, convened a coalitions dialogue but it yielded no firm consensus on how such arrangements should be managed. 

Delivering his inaugural address at the Union Buildings on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said he wanted all South Africans to come together to chart a way forward as the democratic landscape takes a new turn.

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For the first time in 30 years, the ANC has needed to form a governing collective to ensure their president stays in the Union Buildings.

With a governing pact still to be signed on the back of a statement of intent agreed to by a band of political parties on Friday, 
President Ramaphosa has promised he will work with all of them. 

"Nothing will detract us from serving the people and advancing their interests. Now is the time to move forward. Together we will and we can do more and better, as South Africans." 

After years of state capture, Ramaphosa promised the new government would not rest until all those who had pilfered from the public purse were held accountable. 

"We will build a government that is capable and honest."

While there's no constitutional deadline to naming his Cabinet, crunch talks are expected in the coming days as negotiators look to finalise a Cabinet that will be palatable to all.