The Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA) was set to meet on Monday at the party’s headquarters in Bruma, Johannesburg.
As reported by <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/da-federal-council-meets-on-monday-to-discuss-gnu/">SABC News</a>, the party’s top leadership will be discussing power-sharing arrangements with the African National Congress (ANC) and other parties.
The DA garnered nearly 22% of the national vote, won the majority in the Western Cape, and showed a presence in all other provinces in the 29 May 2024 National and Provincial elections.
DA’s National Spokesperson Solly Malatsi said that the party will also specifically look at the ANC proposal to form a government of national unity (GNU). Said Malatsi:
<blockquote>
The DA welcomes the fact that negotiations are now moving to a substantive negotiation phase. Our negotiation team based on the announcement made by the president last night have further meetings with other parties to listen to their views and reactions.
We also hope to get more details from the ANC about the finer details of what a government of national unity entails which will then be deliberated by our federal executive and subsequently, our federal council will then be deliberated on Monday.
</blockquote>
The proposal to have the ANC and the DA working together has drawn mixed reactions, with the South African Communist Party saying it would be going against its anti-capitalist agenda.
Meanwhile, the DA laid down stringent conditions under which parties would be included in the GNU.
The party said it would only agree to be part of ANC’s proposed governing structure if the uMkhonto weSizwe, Economic Freedom Fighters and Patriotic Alliance were excluded.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/gnu-arrogant-da-could-find-itself-out-of-multiparty-government-says-mk-party-b27678be-6c95-4096-ab01-2e03a720a251">IOL</a>, senior MK leader Muzi Ntshingila said the DA will likely be out of the GNU. Said Ntshingila:
<blockquote>
The DA has already isolated itself by being arrogant in ignoring the will of the people and the majority who voted for MK in KwaZulu-Natal.
Progressive black forces are willing to put the country and the vision of the majority of our people first and will come together to do that.
</blockquote>
Ntshingila added the party’s stance on not accepting ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa as part of any new formation still stands.
He, however, hinted at compromises being made to ensure their bigger prize in keeping the DA out of any government coalition is achieved.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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DA Federal Council Meets To Discuss GNU

Former South African president Jacob Zuma, who is fronting uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new opposition party, has been given the green light to run in the country’s general elections slated for 29 May 2024.
The electoral court on Tuesday, 09 April ruled that Zuma can stand in the upcoming general election, overturning the earlier ruling by electoral authorities that barred him due to a previous conviction. It did not explain how the verdict was reached.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had earlier excluded Zuma from the contest following his 2021 conviction and jailing for contempt of court.
The IEC had barred Zuma in terms of Section 47(1)(e) of the Constitution – which states that any person who is convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine is ineligible to stand for public office.
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify before the State Capture Commission.
However, Zuma’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu argued the sentence did not disqualify Zuma as it followed civil rather than criminal proceedings.
He further stated that the remission of sentence granted to Zuma by President Cyril Ramaphosa means that the ultimate sentence meted out against him is three months.
The MK party is considered “a dark horse” in the election race and is expected to reduce the vote share of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
This could result in the ANC’s share of the vote falling below 50 per cent. This will force the ANC to seek coalition partners to remain in power.
Meanwhile, the IEC has requested that the Electoral Court hand down the reasons that led to the order in which it dismissed the objection made against Zuma.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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