The EFF has once again extended an olive branch to the ANC as an option to form a new government as the so-called government of national unity (GNU) negotiations deadlock.
According to the EFF, they told the ANC delegation on Friday in Joburg that should the Luthuli House outfit so wish, they were available to co-govern. As long as such arrangement does not include the DA and Freedom Front Plus.
This is not the first time the EFF has placed this as their central demand. They did the same before the election of the new national assembly and provincial legislatures leaders.
Not the first time the EFF is making demand
The first time around, the ANC chose the DA and sent the red berets brigade packing.
However, choosing the DA has proven a tough choice for the ANC. This is regarding constituting a new national executive as well as the cabinet of the Gauteng provincial government.
The deadlock mainly centres on how to share the spoils on positions. This with DA demanding strategic portfolios in the national executive. Elements of the ANC are having none of that.
The EFF told the ANC at the Friday meeting to abandon the statement of intent it signed with the DA. The statement is to constitute the alleged GNU. It advised the ANC to come to the table to start on a new page with the EFF.
“A new agreement, or Statement of Intent between EFF and ANC instead of the ANC’s Statement of Intent agreed to by GNU partners. This means, we enter into an agreement with the ANC as leader of government. Not with other parties it may invite to government,” said the EFF. The party said this in a statement by its secretary-general Marshal Dlamini to his ANC counterpart Fikile Mbalula.
Objection to DA, FF+ supremacist agenda
“Such an agreement, or Statement of Intent, must necessarily include key principles. These as informed by the strategic objective of the total liberation of the oppressed. As incapsulated in the Freedom Charter and Progressive Internationalism.
“Our objection to work with the DA and FF Plus rests on the DA and FF Plus representing the imperialist, counterrevolutionary, white supremacist agenda. [It is] demonstrated by their rejection of progressive internationalism. [Example of this is its stance on] (Palestine, BRICS, Ukraine, Cuba, Western Sahara). Also on affirmative action, and expropriation of land without compensation. This for equal redistribution to address the apartheid and colonial land regime.”
The reds believe if the ANC proceeds with the DA and FF Plus, it would have abandoned core principles. These are principles of its national democratic revolution (NDR). They are centred around the liberation of blacks in general, and Africans in particular.
“The EFF believes that should the ANC depart from its historic mission as encapsulated in the Freedom Charter and the NDR, and begin to advance reactionary, collaborationist and right-wing political programs, it must be opposed.”
Ramaphosa expected to announce new national executive
ANC boss President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to convene a “Family Meeting” tomorrow (Sunday). The meeting is to announce the new national executive with the DA and others in the GNU.
It remains to be seen if the DA will get to have ministers in the strategic portfolios they have targeted. These include Home Affairs, Communications and Digital Technologies. Also Trade, Industry and Competition, among others.
