With governance partnership in the balance, DA faced with big decision on ANC's reduced Cabinet offering

CAPE TOWN - With an impending governance partnership between the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) hanging by a thread, the DA's federal executive is faced with whether to take or leave a reduced offering of ministerial positions that don’t meet its expectations. 
 
This after President Cyril Ramaphosa penned a scathing letter to DA leader John Steenhuisen this week, accusing the party of negotiating in bad faith and of shifting the goalposts. 
 
Ramaphosa also makes it clear the ANC is keeping its options open by talking to other parties to make sure it can still put together a Government of National Unity (GNU).

READ: DA still committed to GNU process amid reports it could walk away, says Gwarube
 
The gloves are well and truly off after a week of letters between the ANC and the DA being leaked, as the DA jostles over executive posts.
 
Cyril Ramaphosa appears to be pushed to the brink and says the paralysis can’t continue. 
 
That paralysis extends to Parliament, where key committees can’t be configured until a Cabinet is announced. 
 
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said the impasse needs to be broken soon. 
 
"We’ve got a budget that we need to pass very soon, and we’ve got budget committees we need to go into. The longer the process takes, it does hamstring Parliament’s ability to get working and get stuck into the work." 
 
If the DA takes up executive positions in government, Gwarube said it would insist the chairpersons of corresponding portfolio committees come from another party. 
 
"The fight for that is simply good governance practice. You can’t have the very same person in your party holding you to account."
 
But she said the party would have to ensure it did not lose its parliamentary strength to the executive.