Opposition political parties that have formed the Progressive Caucus charge that the ANC left them out of discussions to form a government of national unity (GNU).
The Progressive Caucus includes the EFF, Al Jama-Ah, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), United African Transformation, and United Democratic Movement.
The parties said that although the ANC publicly announced that it would create a space to allow everyone to be part of NGU discussions, it silently formed a coalition with certain parties behind the scenes.
ANC’s preferred coalition partners
Vuyolwethu Zungula, the leader of the African Transformation Movement, said it was surprising that the DA announced that its discussions with the ANC had reached the final stages, whereas the Progressive Caucus was still waiting for documentation from the ANC.
He said the ANC has been meeting with these parties individually. The ANC met most of the parties on Sunday.
Zungula added that if the GNU notion was a reality, then all parties should have been consulted and had an equal understanding before the National Assembly sitting proceeded.
“This morning, the ANC sent the guideline document to Al Jama-Ah individually, and other parties that were part of the initial discussions with the ANC have never received that particular document.
“Again, this clearly shows that the intention of the ANC is not to form a GNU that is inclusive of all native political parties, but their intention is to go into a coalition with their preferred coalition partners,” said Zungula.
Caucus tables collective offer
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said the Progressive Caucus would go into the GNU as a collective, adding that the caucus has tabled its offer to the ANC as a collective.
“Our offer still stands that we can constitute parliament, elect presiding officers, and also elect a president as long as we exclude these other forces that represent colonialism and apartheid,” said Shivambu.
He said there would be consequences if the ANC wanted to go ahead with their coalition, noting that the EFF still stood by the idea that they would negotiate as a collective.
PAC president Mzwanele Nyontso said the party is not willing to negotiate with the ANC individually but as a collective.
He said the ANC contacted him on Thursday to inform him that it would share a statement with him before making it public, but nothing has been said since, nor has he received the statement.
EFF must just shut up please, they are the first to say they are not interested in talking to ANC/DA coalition. Now what? Hypocrisy really makes other people dumps!