President Cyril Ramaphosa to Announce New Cabinet After Delays in GNU Negotiations

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to reveal a fresh cabinet following lengthy negotiations within the government of national unity (GNU). The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and Patriotic Alliance (PA) have been actively involved in these discussions.

The cabinet is expected to include representatives from the 10-member GNU, with the DA receiving a significant role as the second-largest party. After weeks of intricate deliberations, the announcement will take place at 9pm on Sunday, emphasizing a collaborative approach towards governance.

Regarding the composition of the cabinet, the DA’s leadership, including John Steenhuisen, is due to finalize its selection for various ministries and deputy ministerial positions. This move follows an earlier meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen aimed at ironing out disagreements and ensuring a smooth transition.

One of the contentious issues that arose during negotiations was the allocation of the basic education department to the DA, triggering concerns from the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu). The union expressed unease over the potential impact on their organization if the DA were to take charge of basic education.

Furthermore, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula recently engaged in talks with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leadership, led by Marshall Dlamini, to explore the possibility of the leftist party joining the GNU. The EFF has expressed interest in participating but reiterated its stance against the inclusion of the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) in the government structure.

In light of Clause 24 of the GNU statement of intent, any new members looking to join the coalition would need mutual approval from existing parties. This clause underscores the importance of collective decision-making and ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned on the composition of the national executive.