ANC to meet alliance partners as GNU talks near conclusion

With the clock ticking down to the first sitting of Parliament and the election of a new president, the ANC is under pressure to cobble together its planned government of national unity.

The governing party is expected to hold a political council meeting with the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions to finalise discussions on the proposed government of national unity.

The meeting is happening on the sidelines of the National Union of Mineworkers’ policy conference, which was dominated by coalition talks on the first day. 

SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila reiterated his calls for the DA not to be included in any unity government.

"If the white monopoly capital thinks we can work with the DA and its surrogate partners here at home, they are mistaken. It is a gross error.

“The moment we are to break free from the capital, capital had said they want us out by its own actions.

“Why should we beg capital anymore? Why should we remain beholden to capital that has no interest of our people?" asked Mapaila. 

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Meanwhile, Cosatu Deputy President Mike Shingange urged the ANC not to feel beholden to the business sector.

"We have always bend backwards towards the business. We have always accommodated the investor's interests. We have always accommodated rating agencies. We have always accommodated rating agencies and businesses, which have always demanded a conducive environment to do business.

“Though we have done that, they continue to retrench. We are still losing power bit by bit, so it is high time we act in the interest of the majority previously disadvantaged in this country,” said Shingange. 

Both SACP and Cosatu proposed a minority government as the best available option.