WATCH: ‘Lesufi in denial that voters rejected him and ANC’ – DA

Former Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Douglas Gibson claims Panyaza Lesufi has “forgotten” that he was only elected as premier of Gauteng because the DA had voted for him.

This comes after the announcement of the executive council for the seventh administration in Gauteng hit a snag and was postponed for a second time at the eleventh hour.

The DA said it would not be part of the announcement after it was offered only two positions in Lesufi’s executive.

Watch: DA’s Gibson on Lesufi after Gauteng cabinet announcement postponed

Former DA MP Douglas Gibson says Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is in denial that voters rejected him. He claims the DA "wants to make Lesufi look good". Gibson warns Lesufi that he mustn't be greedy and try to grab far more than what he's entitled to.https://t.co/2RMczhDY6V pic.twitter.com/tHZC1TK2k0

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 1, 2024

Lesufi was expected to make the announcement at 7pm on Monday.

‘Lesufi in denial’

Gibson told Newzroom Afrika Lesufi is in denial that voters rejected him.

“Premier Panyaza Lesufi has forgotten that he is only the premier because the DA voted for him. He is in the first stage of grief which is denial that the voters rejected him and his party because they were unsatisfactory as the rulers of Gauteng over the last few years.

“The third thing is, he’s got 28 seats and the DA has got 22 and he mustn’t now be greedy and… grab far more than he’s entitled to. The DA really wants to make Gauteng work and wants to make Lesufi look good for a change for our own people to look good. But the most important thing is to serve the people of this province,” Gibson said.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Gauteng cabinet announcement postponed again after ‘deadlock’ with DA

DA ‘spoilt brat’

The African National Congress’ (ANC) provincial leadership, in a media briefing after the postponed of the announcement, said it could not agree with the DA’s demands.

Gauteng head of elections Lebogang Maile said it was not the first time the DA and the ANC had reached a deadlock in their negotiations.

Maile said if it had not been for the disagreements between the two parties, Lesufi would have announced his Cabinet two weeks ago.

He believed the DA wanted to bully the ANC, and while the ANC was prepared to negotiate, it was not going to allow for the party to be bullied.

“They (DA) is behaving like a spoilt brat, and now we must be entertaining that?”

Announcement

ANC provincial secretary TK Nciza said the ANC will try again to negotiate with the DA, but this will be led by the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

Nciza said Lesufi would announce his Cabinet on Tuesday “with or without the DA”.

The Citizen did contact Lesufi, his comments will be added to the story once received.

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