By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The newly formed political party RISE Mzansi becomes the 9th party to join the Government of National Unity (GNU) formulated by the African National Congress (ANC) after the May 29 elections.
RISE Mzansi garnered two seats in the National Assembly (NA) and one seat in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
The GNU is being formulated following the general election in which the ANC lost its absolute majority in Parliament.
RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi, announced on Saturday morning that his party signed the Statement of Intent on Friday, 21 June to finalise its approach to an inclusive government.
“Yesterday the RISE Mzansi national leadership collective met to discuss a final approach to the government of national unity. The sitting of the national leadership collective followed our initial approach, which was to ensure that the first sitting of the National Assembly elected a speaker, deputy speaker and president to ensure constitutional, democratic and social stability, “Zibi added.
“In the meeting, the national leadership collective decided that RISE Mzansi should form part of the GNU and national dialogue to ensure that the aspirations and hopes of the people who elected us to serve are heard. Through the election campaign we were clear and consistent in saying that in our constitutional architecture, the work of Parliament and provincial legislatures is as important as the government executive. South Africans deserve legislation of a high quality.”
The move follows hot on the heels of the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) joining the coalition on Thursday this week and United Democratic Movement (UDM) on Friday.
The government of national unity also consists of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), the GOOD Party and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).
RISE Mzansi believes the GNU offers it a chance to implement its key manifesto issues. It however emphasised that its participation will remain dependent on its principles.
“Since 9 June 2024, RISE Mzansi has been consulting various political parties and stakeholders to inform our decisions on how best to participate in shaping South Africa’s future in a changed political environment,” Zibi said.
“In essence, these discussions have involved whether or not to participate in the proposed government of national unity and national dialogue, and the implications of either choice,” the party leader continued.
At the same time, Build One South Africa (BOSA) said they would soon announce whether or not it would form part of the GNU.
“We want to only join a GNU when we are clear on what the agenda is, the programme of the GNU and how we will participate in that. But other than that, we’ve also been commissioned by the people of South Africa to hold the government to account BOSA deputy leader Nobantu Hlazo-Webster said.”