President Cyril Ramaphosa says door remains open for EFF and other political parties to join GNU
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Loading... - Olivia Shane
- 16 Sep 2024
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that political parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are welcome to join South Africa's government of national unity (GNU), provided they agree to its guiding principles.
Speaking to journalists at the Union Buildings on Friday, Ramaphosa stated that any party interested in being part of the GNU must express their desire and demonstrate alignment with the principles set out in the GNU’s statement of intent.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has also shown a strong interest in seeing the EFF join the unity government. ANCYL president Collen Malatji recently invited the EFF to reconsider joining the GNU, suggesting that the departure of EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, who had been seen as a significant obstacle due to his animosity towards the ANC, could pave the way for renewed discussions.
"We've invited everyone to join the GNU, including the EFF. Now that Shivambu has left, perhaps we should invite them again, as he was seen as the stumbling block due to his hatred of the ANC," Malatji said.
However, the exclusion of the EFF from the GNU has sparked debate within the ANC, with some figures, such as Solly Mapaila, general secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), criticizing the decision to include parties like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) instead of the EFF.
Ramaphosa explained that during the initial negotiations, the ANC was open to working with all parties, including the EFF, but certain parties chose not to participate. "Those who did not fully subscribe to the statement of intent and did not want to work with others ultimately opted out," he said.
The president also mentioned that some parties that joined the process later have been integrated into the legislatures, even though there was no space left in the executive. He emphasized that cooperation between the parties has been positive and welcomed those who joined later.
