WC Premier makes urgent call for legislation to cement coalition govts

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says legislation is urgently needed to cement coalition governments.

While he's confident the Government of National Unity (GNU) can withstand five years, he says it's been a shortcoming that there was not enough time to iron out policy matters before the deal was sealed.

He was reflecting on the sticking points that will challenge the partnership in the months ahead at the Cape Town Press Club.

Like the Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson, Helen Zille, Winde agrees that what is being referred to as a GNU is in fact, a coalition government.

READ: Zille insists SA's current govt formation is a coalition of parties, rather than GNU

As part of the DA's negotiating team after the May polls, with hindsight, he believes at least 150 days are needed to sort out policy issues before executive positions are decided upon.

“We haven't got to the tough debate on the NHI [National Health Insurance] yet, it's in a committee somewhere. We haven’t got to the objections yet that I'm putting in from the province and mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis are putting in from the city on the president signing off on the procurement bill. It’s problematic,” said Winde.

He said a bit of competition between ministers is not all bad, amid reports of African National Congress (ANC) ministers feeling slighted by the actions of DA ministers so far.

“So hopefully now, the next thing it's going to be John or Helen saying, guys the ANC ministers are showing you up, pull up your socks,” he said.

He believes with the new MK Party in the opposition benches with the Economic Freedom Fighters, it will be a boon to making the GNU work.