Leading ANC's smallest caucus since 1994 has been challenging, says party chief whip Ntuli

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC)'s parliamentary whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said that leading the party's smallest caucus since 1994 had been challenging.

Until the May polls, the ANC has always enjoyed a majority big enough to drive its policies and push through legislation without hindrance.

Speaking to the media at Parliament on Wednesday, Ntuli said there had so far been good cooperation between Government of National Unity (GNU) parties in advancing parliamentary business.

Ntuli is not only new to Parliament but also the job of steering a minority caucus.

He said that with the numbers against them, there’s no room for members to skive off and if anything, they have to work harder.

"We think the ANC should constantly cultivate its capacity to persuade about the correctness of whatever position it is we want to advance or are advancing in a portfolio committee."

Heading into the third parliamentary term, he said there's been good cooperation so far between GNU partners.

Ntuli chairs a regular meeting of party whips to exchange ideas on the issues before Parliament or to iron out any disagreement.

"Never mind how much we disagree but we must never run away from engagement so that when we engage, the possibility exists for us to have a meeting of minds."

Ntuli said there’s a firm commitment among parties to regularly engage each other, not only in times of dispute.