By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) announced its plans to meet with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) to discuss a clear path forward, including on the various permutations and modalities that would need to feature in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
This follows the ANC’s announcement that it is seeking new partners after losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.
The ANC’s dismal showing at the polls has left the biggest party in Parliament without a majority for the first time since 1994.
The federation’s spokesperson, Mathew Parks, said they are also hoping to understand the policy parameters within a government of national unity.
“We just want to understand what the threshold is, what the requirements are for political parties to enter the GNU, and whether the GNU extends from cabinet to parliament.
“I think what is more critical for us is also to ensure that every party entering cabinet agrees to respect the constitution’s rule of law, agrees to support the campaign against crime and corruption and the campaign for the state of society.
He said it is important that all political parties in the government of national unity agree to respect workers’ labour rights.
“It is also critical for us that all parties in the GNU agree to respect the labour rights of workers, the labour laws that we have chatted for so many years to achieve, and of course, it will be able to ensure a stable government which is capacitated to grow the economy, give relief to the unemployed and the poor.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) appear interested in joining the pact that would see the inclusion of smaller parties in government.
The official opposition said it was open to talks and was “committed to the process”.
“But the broad invitation to all parties … rather than limiting it to parties committed to our current constitutional dispensation, the rule of law and a social-market economy, has undoubtedly complicated matters,” DA spokesperson Werner Horn said.
On their own, the ANC, DA and IFP would have enough numbers to elect a president and a Speaker when Parliament meets again for the first time since the 29 May polls.
But the proposal has gotten some pushback from the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The SACP also opposes the unity government if the DA is included, while COSATU prefers to discuss the matter with the alliance before making a decision.
The new parliament has to convene within two weeks of Sunday’s results declaration and one of its first acts must be to elect the president. The constitutional deadline, which will fall on or near June 16, is putting pressure on the ANC and others to reach an agreement quickly.
Meawnwhile Fullview understands that Hola Bon Renaissance (HBR) Foundation, the non-profit organisation, approached the Electoral Court about what it calls the IEC’s failure to discharge its statutory obligations.
The HBR Foundation wants the 2024 national and provincial elections to be declared null and void in terms of the Electoral Act, which empowers the commission or the Electoral Court to decide – whether as a result of an objection or appeal brought under section 55, which deals with objections material to the final election results, or otherwise – that a serious irregularity has occurred concerning any aspect of the polls.