Ramaphosa: ANC won't dance to DA tune!

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has hit back at the DA for negotiating in bad faith.

In a scathing letter addressed to DA leader John Steenhuisen, Ramaphosa accused the party of jeopardising the foundation of setting up a Government of National Unity (GNU).

He said the DA was "moving the goalposts" and wanted to create a parallel government to the GNU, which was not in line with the principles of the statement of intent the party signed when it joined the GNU.

Ramaphosa's letter, dated 25 June, was sparked by correspondence from DA federal council chairwoman Helen Zille, where the DA demanded 12 cabinet posts and the deputy president position.

The ANC leader said Zille's letter was "offensive, condescending and inconsistent with the Constitution".

He pointed out that discussions with the 10 political parties that signed the statement of intent, including the DA, had agreed to abide by the Constitution and its values and an understanding of the rules of an effective and lawful government.

Ramaphosa wrote: "Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the DA. In its recent proposal, I believe the DA has jeopardised the foundation of setting up a government of national unity by moving the goalposts in your [Steenhuisen] letter of 24 June 2024 to me."

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He emphasised that the ANC wanted to conclude negotiations this week.

"I regard your approach in moving the goalposts as a continuation of what was articulated in your Federal chair's letter of 22 June 2024 on issues such as "sealed mandates" of ministries, through which the DA seemed to want to set up a parallel government that would operate outside the framework and parameters of the Constitution-based method and protocols of running the government of the Republic of South Africa.

"I also prefer not to deal further with the legally incompetent proposals to unilaterally re-determine contractual arrangements of directors-general and other contracts. I did inform you that I felt we should not dwell on the misguided propositions contained in that letter as paying attention to the contents of that letter would divert us from the task at hand of constituting a government of national unity," Ramaphosa continued.

He said he was taken aback by how the DA now wants two more portfolios to bring its portfolios to eight.

On 24 June, Steenhuisen said in his letter that the DA accepted the six portfolios but would want two more.

Ramaphosa said the ANC won't accede to the DA's latest proposals.

"I'm sure you're aware that the DA is not the only party we [ANC] are negotiating with on the setting up of a government of national unity. Following my meeting with you yesterday, we have continued our negotiations with other parties that wish to be part of the GNU.

"As the ANC is leading the process of these negotiations, we have had to consider proposals from other parties, and therefore, what we discussed yesterday stands to be reconsidered as you made clear to me that 'you would not be able to get less than the number of portfolios the DA desired over the line with your Fedex'," he said.