Fresh details of why Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was stopped from announcing his provincial cabinet have emerged in an ANC provincial executive committee (PWC) meeting this week.
Lesufi was ordered by Luthuli House to refrain from announcing the cabinet, which excluded the DA after the blue party’s demands for five MEC posts.
The cabinet Lesufi wanted to announce included one seat for Patriotic Alliance, a position for IFP and another for Rise Mzansi and none for DA, which rejected an offer for three MECs.
After finalising the cabinet, Lesufi convened a media briefing to announce the cabinet but cancelled it at the eleventh hour after receiving a call from Luthuli House to hold his horses. President Cyril Ramaphosa was then optimistic that he would find common ground with the blue party on how ministries would be allocated in the government of national unity.
“Literally, Panyaza is walking around with two lists of cabinet, the other one inclusive of PA, Rise Mzansi and IFP and another inclusive of ANC and DA,” said the PWC member who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.
The impasse is compounded by the ANC PEC’s known preference to work with the EFF and Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party, a stance that is an abomination for Luthuli House bosses. The MK and the EFF did not oppose Lesufi’s election as premier and neither fielded a candidate. Furthermore, the provincial legislature speaker, ANC provincial treasurer Morakane Mosupyoe’s nomination was seconded by the MK Party.
“Comrades are saying if we go into bed with EFF or MK, they will be eating from our support base, which is a tired excuse,” opined an ANC leader.
“There is no logic that EFF will eat into our base if you share power with them because those who argue like that, fail to show us the so-called growth of the EFF and where since 2019 and 2021 for that matter? It is a fairytale.”
The ANC top brass in the province lays the blame for what it dubbed a “hostage situation” squarely on the doorstep of Luthuli House, saying that Lesufi’s efforts to announce a cabinet have been frustrated merely because the party at national level wants to force a DA marriage.
“The ANC old guard is just stubborn when they are new to this thing of the coalition and do not know how to navigate its complexities. In Gauteng, we have experience because we have been having coalitions in our metros but they want to tell us what to do. If the ANC goes into a coalition with the DA, we would have effectively shot ourselves in the foot,” said an ANC Gauteng leader.
Those attending the PWC meeting also accused the DA of hypocrisy, saying that on one hand, the blue party was all about provinces having more power but on the other, they’re insisting that the government of national unity’s national agreement be binding on provinces.
Sunday World understands the Gauteng ANC looked at the EFF and MK as their preferred playmates – who apparently came with fewer strings attached – and party leaders were not exactly subtle about their disdain for the DA.
“The DA wants five MECs in Gauteng, how possible is that? They are mad, mchana, we had offered them three and they rejected that very generous offer.”
Gauteng ANC leaders believe the DA’s “hypocrisy” is finding expression because it is tolerated by Luthuli House.
Among other points of hypocrisy that have irked ANC Gauteng’s top brass, Sunday World heard, was the DA’s insistence to tell Lesufi how many MEC positions they want when the constitution is clear about that being the “prerogative” of the premier.
But the ANC Gauteng bosses are puzzled about their national counterparts being dribbled by the DA.
“The DA know what they are doing, and the ANC does not. The DA is running the Western Cape on its own, they are part of the KZN government. Why bring them to Gauteng too, which is the economic hub of the country, because that will mean they have total control,” said another PEC member.
