Gauteng DA says still open to renegotiating with ANC to reach agreement on Lesufi’s Cabinet

JOHANNESBURG - In Gauteng, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it remains open to returning to the negotiating table with the African National Congress (ANC) to try and reach an agreement on the makeup of Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s executive.

Following a lengthy and intense meeting on Tuesday, the two organisations once again failed to agree on the allocation of MEC positions.

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On Tuesday night, the DA held a media briefing in Johannesburg to present its side of the story regarding the deadlock.

It’s been nearly three weeks since Lesufi was re-elected as premier, but it remains to be seen when he’ll announce his multi-party Cabinet.

A visibly disappointed Helen Zille, who serves as the DA’s federal council chair, said it had become evident the ANC had not accepted it no longer enjoys a decisive majority.

“We understand that the ANC is slightly bigger than us in Gauteng, but equally we expect to be recognised as the second biggest party not far behind.”

Zille, however, feels the ANC is not engaging the party respectfully.

“We need a respectful interchange. We don’t go to the media and say things about the ANC, as, for example, they said about us.”

The ANC is set to tell its side of the story at a media briefing on Wednesday morning.