DA's Steenhuisen seeks another meeting with Ramaphosa over GNU impasse
A bid to seal the deal failed earlier this week, with the DA accusing the ANC of swapping an initial offer of giving the department of trade, industry and competition to the DA for control of the tourism portfolio.
FILE: DA leader John Steenhusen at the Union Buildings ahead of the 2024 presidential inauguration on 19 June 2024. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The fate of the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU) is now firmly back in President Cyril Ramaphosa's hands as its leader, John Steenhuisen, requests yet another face-to-face meeting.
Eyewitness News understands that on Thursday night, the DA's negotiating team gave an update on talks to its federal executive committee, indicating that it would seek a meeting in order to find a way past the current impasse.
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A bid to seal the deal failed earlier this week, with the DA accusing the ANC of swapping an initial offer of giving the department of trade, industry and competition to the DA for control of the tourism portfolio.
This is also on the back of the leak of a letter by Ramaphosa to the DA where he rebukes the party’s approach to the negotiations.
As Ramaphosa prepares to announce his new Cabinet, he's once again being compared to his mentor, South Africa's founding father, Nelson Mandela.
In 1991, Madiba took on the National Party and FW de Klerk over their conduct during the CODESA talks.
Ramaphosa's sharp rebuke of the DA's approach to the GNU bears a similar hallmark.
These include a clear reminder that the negotiations are an ANC-led initiative and inclusive of all parties – they both question if their opponents were approaching the talks in good faith, while accusing them of putting personal interests ahead of the GNU and its values.
And just like Madiba, Ramaphosa has left the door open for more talks.
Meanwhile, Eyewitness News understands the DA has used that opportunity, having resolved on Thursday night to ask for yet another meeting with the president on Friday afternoon.