Lindsay Dentlinger4 November 2024 | 9:43

Despite perceived GNU harmony, Parliament lacks power-sharing willingness

It’s taken four months for Parliament to establish six joint committees largely over disagreement between the ANC and DA as to how the chairpersonships should be split. 

Despite perceived GNU harmony, Parliament lacks power-sharing willingness

Deputy President Paul Mashatile chaired a sitting of the GNU clearing house at Tuynhuys, Cape Town on 24 October 2024. Picture: GCIS

CAPE TOWN - While the executive insists the Government of National Unity is working well, in Parliament the willingness to make concessions to share positions of power is not quite there. 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is now appealing to the African National Congress (ANC)’s top leadership – including Secretary General Fikile Mbalula - to get its parliamentary caucuses to toe the line. 

This after ANC members snubbed DA nominations last week to co-chair joint parliamentary committees, against a written agreement to share the positions. 

It’s taken four months for Parliament to establish six joint committees largely over disagreement between the ANC and DA as to how the chairpersonships should be split. 

Last week, the two houses finally elected the chairpersons of the joint committee on defence, and that of the financial management of Parliament. 

But in both instances - chairpersons were elected from the ANC only  - with its members snubbing nominations from the DA. 

The DA’s National Council of Provinces leader Dennis Ryder says this is an act of bad faith. 

"There’re many instances in politics where mischievous people will nominate someone who shouldn’t be nominated to a position just to see how the chips fall, but there should be sufficient discipline that when people are nominated when they are not supposed to be nominated, that they should actually decline that nomination."

Ryder says the battle with the ANC to co-chair key committees, is not just about positions. 

“The joint standing committee on defence is a key strategic committee which has huge responsibilities, and the deliberations there have a massive impact on South Africa and on our soldiers. We would like to wield the authority that goes with that committee.”

The ANC’s chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli says several developments in recent days require some reflection between parties before the next steps are decided. 

On Thursday, the DA got the ANC’s back up after it tabled and succeeded in a proposal to the rules committee to establish a parliamentary committee over The Presidency - supported by the Economic Freedom Fighters and the uMkhonto weSizwe.

The elected chairpersons to the joint committees that were not intended to be voted into the positions, will have to resign following normal parliamentary processes before replacements can be elected.