ANC-DA impasse on Gauteng Cabinet of grave concern, say analysts
On Monday night attempts to name those who will form Lesufi’s executive was abandoned amid claims from both the ANC and DA of negotiating in bad faith.
FILE: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi prior to delivering his State of the Province (SOPA) at the Nasrec Expo Centre on 19 February 2024. Picture: X/GautengProvince
JOHANNESBURG - Some political analysts said that it was gravely concerning that a continuous stand-off between the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) had stalled Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s announcement of his Cabinet.
On Monday night, attempts to name those who would form Lesufi’s executive were abandoned amid claims from both the ANC and DA of negotiating in bad faith.
The DA claims the ANC has only offered it two positions out of a possible ten, which subsequently changed to just one portfolio, while the ANC said that the DA's demands were unreasonable.
Analyst Tessa Dooms said that Gauteng's ability to form a government had been contingent on power-sharing talks at national level. She said that this should not have been the case.
"If these parties are forming coalitions on the basis of number 1, merit, and the outcome of the elections at the different provincial levels and national level, the national outcome should not be what decides a provincial coalition. That shows that parties are not acting in terms of what is best for the province but the basis of what is best for their parties. They are using one set of outcomes to leverage another."
Meanwhile, the University of the Western Cape's Ntando Sindane defined the current impasse as a crisis but said it was to be expected.
"I think in a coalition, a first of its kind, at the level of provincial government it would take some time for parties to find each other. This, of course, will have consequences for service delivery, however, I think we should give relevant leaders some time to find each other."