Gauteng ANC officials to meet following Lesufi’s executive announcement postponement

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng African National Congress (ANC) officials are due to meet on Sunday afternoon following the postponement of the announcement of Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s executive.

Eyewitness News understands the postponement was at the behest of the ANC’s national office, on the back of information that he would not appoint any Democratic Alliance (DA) members to his executive.

The ANC is working with the DA and several other parties under the umbrella of a Government of National Unity (GNU) after failing to get a majority in the May 29th general polls.

The agreement would have seen the DA getting at least three portfolios in Gauteng.

As the DA attempts to flex its muscle in talks with the president and the ANC on the appointment of ministers, it seems the party’s demands in Gauteng have left a sour taste in the provincial ANC’s mouth.

Eyewitness News further understands a deadlock over the dishing out of portfolios via proportional representation or at the behest of Lesufi is one of the reasons for friction between the two parties.

Moreover, the DA is accused of attempting to negotiate on behalf of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).

As a result, the ANC in Gauteng was willing to go ahead and appoint only its members to the Cabinet but was halted by its national office.

Some aggrieved ANC insiders have told Eyewitness News its headquarters - Luthuli House - is making the party indebted to the DA in Gauteng.

Both the national and Gauteng spokespeople were unavailable to comment at the time of publication.