Pretoria, South Africa, June 20, 2024 – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned Cabinet announcement has been delayed due to demands from the Democratic Alliance (DA) for key positions in the government of national unity (GNU). The DA is pushing for at least 10 MPs in significant economic portfolios and insists that party leader John Steenhuisen be appointed as deputy president.
Initially, Ramaphosa was expected to unveil his Cabinet on Sunday following his inauguration at the Union Buildings. However, the DA’s demands have pushed this back by several days. Negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and the DA have reached an impasse, with the ANC offering only three Cabinet posts to the DA, far fewer than the DA’s desired ten.
The DA’s negotiating team is pressing for a larger share of the Cabinet, arguing that as the second-largest party in the GNU, they should receive the deputy president position. An insider from the DA stated that this arrangement aligns with the norms of coalition governments worldwide.
A senior ANC leader described the DA’s demands as unacceptable, citing the growing number of parties in parliament, including the UDM, Patriotic Alliance, PAC, Rise Mzansi, and FF+, which complicates the allocation of Cabinet positions.
Facing the deadlock, the DA considered withdrawing from the GNU but decided to continue negotiations, which are expected to resume on Sunday. The DA seeks to oversee key portfolios such as Communication and Digital Technology, Trade and Industry, Transport, Public Service and Administration, Water and Sanitation, Local Government, and Health, in addition to deputy minister roles in Finance and Health.
Former DA leader Tony Leon warned that other GNU parties could align against the DA on various issues, necessitating compromises. Leon pointed out that the GNU framework includes a provision for resolving disagreements, allowing parties constituting 60% of the GNU to break deadlocks.
