With 7 months of GNU, several arrangements still need to be ironed out, says analyst

CAPE TOWN - Seven months since the Government of National Unity (GNU) formation, political analyst Zwelethu Jolobe says several modalities of this arrangement still need to be ironed out, including whether it will outlast the current leadership of its biggest parties.

While the Democratic Alliance (DA) will hold its elective conference next year - President Cyril Ramaphosa’s five-year term as African National Congres (ANC) leader will end before the country goes to the polls again. 

Jolobe says he would expect the national dialogue to grapple with these issues to guard against new leaders backtracking on the agreement that not all party members are happy with. 

Up until now, the working relationship between parties within the GNU has largely been determined by its leaders. 

READ: National dialogue will be an important forum to set out mandate & term of GNU - political analyst

Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Cape Town, Jolobe said the often-acrimonious politics at the provincial and local government levels, point to the need for broader consensus to be reached on how coalitions should be approached. 

"I think there needs to be some sort of realignment, that yes, parties may compete with each other, but within pre-prescribed rules or maybe they can say they will form a GNU across all levels."

Jolobe said decisions also need to be made about whether new party leaders can change the rules of engagement or even opt out of the partnership. 

"What you don’t want is to have no agreement and then Ramaphosa goes, [John] Steenhuisen goes, and the next people say, no, let’s scrap this whole thing."

Jolobe said while being sold as a national dialogue - primarily it will be aimed at the two biggest parties in the GN reaching a consensus.