By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi forced to postpone the announcement of all-ANC member provincial executive council after failing to reach an agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) on how the provincial executive should be constituted.
The announcement was scheduled for 14:00 on Sunday.
The provincial government made the announcement on social media platform X, without providing further details.
Lesufi, sworn in as premier last week, has been in office for a week but has yet to announce his cabinet.
According to Lesufi negotiators advised that the announcement be postponed as they asked for more time.
Lesufi has urged parties in the provincial unity government to promptly find common ground.
The newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) is teetering on the brink of collapse as the ANC and DA are failing to find common ground on ministries that should be shared among the agreement partners.
Fullview also understands President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed Lesufi to include members of the DA in his provincial cabinet.
The DA had initially requested four MEC positions, while Lesufi countered with an offer of three positions.
A senior ANC source in Gauteng said that Lesufi was ready to proceed without the DA but Ramaphosa intervened.
The President’s directive was clear – the inclusion of the DA is necessary to maintain the spirit of the GNU Lesufi must accommodate this directive despite the initial breakdown in negotiations,” said the source.
The DA in Gauteng has threatened to pull out of government of national unity as negotiations between it and the ANC over MEC positions.