Mashatile’s ‘worries’ and minority party to run parliament? ANC NEC meet to discuss coalitions

The ruling ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) will gather on Thursday to discuss the way forward in coalition talks, with a possible coalition with the DA and other parties understood to be high on the agenda.

The committee is the highest decision-making body of the ANC between national conferences and has the power to decide the course of the party.

The ANC has been in power for 30 years but lost its majority in the 29 May elections. It secured just over 40% of the national vote, while the main opposition, the DA, got 21.8%.

ANC talking to everyone

The party‘s national working committee met earlier this week to discuss coalitions and will present its “detailed perspectives on forming government in SA” to the NEC.

Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri confirmed the party was leaning towards a government of national unity that would see all political parties represented in government.

She said the party had so far met with the DA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), National Freedom Party (NFP) and Patriotic Alliance (PA). It said it had reached out to uMkhonto weSizwe party “with no positive response”.

“The ANC has reached out to everyone. We are engaging everyone based on our values, principles and values. When the NEC meets, it will consider these fundamentals when looking at who will form the government of national unity,” she added.

ALSO READ: Is Zuma blue ticking the ANC? MK party says it’s open to talking coalitions with the ruling party

She said talks with potential partners have so far been “exploratory”.

Mashatile ‘worried’

However, deputy president Paul Mashatile is reportedly concerned that his party may give his position to DA leader John Steenhuisen in a coalition.

TimesLIVE sources said Mashatile was worried by the push for a coalition between the two parties when the DA seemed keen on his position. They also claimed he was concerned the ANC had only made President Cyril Ramaphosa’s position a non-negotiable in talks.

“Why have they not said anything about the position of the deputy?” asked a Mashatile ally.

Coalition picture clearer by next week

DA leader John Steenhuisen told Newzroom Afrika talks with the ANC and others were at an early stage and that it was waiting on the NEC to meet so that talks could progress.

“We are too far away from the finalisation of this process to be dealing in granular detail. We still need to agree that we want to talk to each other. Can we find a common consensus about what we believe is the future of SA? That is where these things start.”

ALSO READ: Unions warn against ANC-DA coalition, say workers’ rights at stake

“We are still unsure whether talks are going to continue. We are unsure what the outcome of the various party meetings will be.”

He predicted we may have a clearer picture of who could be in coalition by Monday.

WATCH: Steenhuisen’s comments on coalitions below.

[ON AIR] "We've met with the ANC and IFP but these are very much in the initial phases; there haven't been any formal ideas or offers put on the table. We are waiting to see what will happen in the NEC. We hope to have some clarity by the weekend." DA leader John Steenhuisen is… pic.twitter.com/4ugoUwM9cJ

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 5, 2024

A minority party to run parliament?

Business Day sources said the NEC is expected to discuss the option of ditching the DA, EFF and MK party in favour of working with smaller parties only.

It said this may see a minority party lead parliament and the ANC control the executive.

While mathematically possible, it will be an ideological mountain to climb and a possible logistical nightmare.

It could cripple policy development and paralyse implementation.