Government of National Unity can't exist without MK, EFF - Analyst
Political scientist Mbasa Mvenene says the idea behind a Government of National Unity is to provide the broadest representation by having the largest political parties within Cabinet.
The DA and ANC entered into an arrangement in the Government of National Unity. Picture: GCIS
Africa Melane interviewed political scientist and political studies lecturer at Walter Sisulu University, Mbasa Mvenene.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
The African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) along with other small parties have formed what they call a Government of National Unity (GNU) following the ANC losing its majority for the first time in 30 years during the May 29 elections.
Mvenene says that in terms of political science, this is not a GNU but a grand coalition of a special kind.
"This is in terms of definition, a grand coalition of a special type because it involves two parties with divergent ideological positions."
- Mbasa Mvenene, political scientist
"With the extension of the invite to other political parties, this can be seen as the ANC attempting to create the idea of more representation for the electorate but it isn't necessarily a Government of National Unity because it doesn't meet the requirements of being a Government of National Unity."
- Mbasa Mvenene, political scientist
Mvenene explains that the idea behind a GNU is to provide the broadest representation by having the largest political parties within Cabinet.
"For one, there would have to be a particular threshold for a political party to be included in the Government of National Unity. For instance, in 1994, the threshold was 10% and we only had three parties in that Government of National Unity - we had the ANC, the National Party and the IFP. The seat allocation there was shared proportionally in terms of the party's vote share in that particular election."
- Mbasa Mvenene, political scientist
"Also importantly, the uMkhonto we Sizwe party and the Economic Freedom Fighters would have to form part of a Government of National Unity because they got quite a considerable amount of the vote share."
- Mbasa Mvenene, political scientist
According to a recent City Press article, the DA will reportedly get six ministerial positions and four deputies, while the IFP will get two ministerial positions and possibly one deputy minister’s position in the GNU.
Scroll up to listen to the full interview.