By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The much-anticipated Cabinet lekgotla of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is underway at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.
The meeting is being held to discuss a programme of action for the 7th administration this includes consolidating the Medium-Development Plan towards Vision 20230.
The newly sworn-in national executive took their oaths of office in Cape Town on Wednesday last week.
Comprising 76 members, including 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, the new executive consists of members from nine different political parties.
This blend of old and new includes several members from former opposition parties now leading various portfolios as part of the unity government.
In his first engagement with the media last week, Ramaphosa said the new government is ready to roll up its sleeves.
“It has been a very difficult and complicated process. It’s now come to an end and to a start. It’s a fresh start for all of us in South Africa.
“Today was a historic moment in constituting the executive of our country in the form of ministers and deputy ministers, who have all collectively been assuring me… that they are going to work and they are going to make South Africans proud.
“The trust that our people have invested in all these men and women… We will not waste time. We will work very hard to take our country forward,” said Ramaphosa.
The two-day meeting brings together ministers and their deputies, premiers, directors-general and representatives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni revealed that the outcomes of the lekgotla will be announced by Ramaphosa at the opening address of Parliament this coming Thursday.
“We are not going to invite the media to a briefing on the outcome of the lekgotla. [This] will be communicated by the president at the opening address of Parliament on the 18th of July.
“We will then go back and meet as clusters, finalise the priorities of clusters and finalise the strategic plans,” she told journalists.
Last week, Ntshavheni indicated that the Forum of South Africa Directors-General (Fosad) would analyse the manifestos of GNU parties, and submit a proposal for consideration at the lekgotla.
The minister said government’s priorities and programme of action would be detailed in the medium-term strategic framework (MTSF).
She explained the GNU will strive to meet the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP), which was adopted by Parliament in 2012, along with the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals, using the parties’ manifestos as a guide.
“The set of actions are being guided by the priorities that were agreed to by the parties to the GNU, which are the nine priorities,” the minister added.
Ntshavheni cited economic growth and job creation of some of government’s main priorities.
“We are looking at what should we do to unlock the economy to grow so that it can create jobs for the people of South Africa. To do that, we need partnerships with business.”