TALKS resume after failed meeting to form provincial GNU.
This follows the postponement of announcement of the multi-party cabinet by irritated Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, last night in Sandton.
Instead, an impromptu press briefing was held to outline major obstacles hampering the talks between the ANC and DA.
ANC provincial head of elections Lebogang Maile on Monday night accused the DA of being “bullies” and “spoilt brats”.
“We have received instructions from the national leadership of the ANC. Because ANC is a leader of society and a democratic party, we have decided to postpone (the announcement) in line with the ANC framework on this matter which says we should work with everyone, including the DA,” said Maile at a press briefing.
The postponement is the second in just over a week.
“What is causing the delays in announcing the cabinet, is the DA wanting to behave as if we are partners and also wanting to dictate who must be invited in the GPU (Government of Provincial Unity). We can’t be doing that,” said Maile.
“The list of cabinet members is in the pocket of the premier. It is ready and does not consist of the DA. It is unfortunate that the Gauteng leader of the DA Solly Msimanga is going around the media, painting the ANC as being unreasonable when it is them who are causing the delays.
“We do not discuss issues of national interest through media, as a disciplined member, I can’t,” commented the ANC Gauteng, Provincial SG- TK Nciza, who was flanked by another senior member Tasneem Motara, at the media briefing.
In response, Solly Msimanga, leader of the DA in Gauteng, said he met with the ANC on Monday morning to discuss the DA’s proposal and Lesufi promised to give him an answer by 4pm but this never happened.
“The ANC has failed to come back to us. If they think they can make an announcement without prior engagement, the deal is off. We only see in the media that he is planning to announce without talking to us about our proposals.”
Asked to reveal the DA’s proposal, Msimang refused to give details about their proposal to the ANC.
“Unfortunately I can’t divulge that information to the media because these are ongoing engagements. The ANC has our proposal on the cabinet positions. We will simply go to the opposition benches and do our work if it goes on with the announcement without giving us the feedback.”
At the time of publishing, intensive talks are on-going between the said parties.
Image supplied (ANC’s Lebogang Maile and TK Nciza, at an impromptu press briefing last night in Sandton, detailing the delay of announcement of provincial cabinet).
