SA’s economic hub is still without an executive

It remains to be seen whether Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi will name his cabinet anytime soon after two failed attempts.

Yesterday, the premier made a U-turn on his much-anticipated cabinet announcement as negotiations with the DA deadlocked over positions.

Lesufi had previously revealed that negotiations with the DA have been difficult.

DA leader in Gauteng Solly Msimanga says the ANC’s offer of two MEC positions is an insult.

He says while they have a desire to be in government, should they find themselves in opposition benches, they will gladly take that position.

The two parties have formed a Government of Provincial Unity following the recent elections which left the province hung.

The ANC managed to secure 34.55% of the votes in Gauteng earning them 17 seats in the provincial legislature, while the DA garnered 27.23% of the votes and secured 13 seats.

The ANC and the DA have been locked in talks today as the tussle for positions continues to play out in public.

Political Analyst, Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, says considering the idea of proportionality as stipulated in the GPU Statement of Intent, the DA’s demands are valid.

Breakfast says the margin between the DA and the ANC is not massive, adding that allocating two seats to the DA is unjustifiable.

“What is compounding the situation is the fact that the provincial leadership of the ANC prefers an EFF and ANC coalition because a precedent has been set at the local government level.”

He says another factor to consider is that the DA has given the ANC a buy-in which assisted in the re-election of Lesufi as the premier.

Breakfast says the government of  provincial unity need an independent body to address some of the political differences to preserve the arrangement.

The scholar says politicians must accept that the idea of one-party dominance is a thing of the past.

He has, however bemoaned how citizens are on the back foot in the wake of these squabbles.

“This implies that without political heads, you cannot have service delivery, meaning that services have been put on hold because of egos among political elites.”

Meanwhile, ANC’s provincial secretary-general TK Nciza says they will form a government with or without the DA.

Nciza maintains that the GPU is the concept of the ANC, as they are the leading party.

He says all other parties who were invited to join the GPU agree with the ANC except the DA.

A visibly frustrated Nciza did not miss the opportunity during the last-minute media briefing last night to call the DA spoilt brats.