ANC, DA strike a deal: Ramaphosa president, Didiza speaker, DA gets deputy speaker

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be elected with the support of the DA on Friday afternoon.

The parties struck a deal shortly after 10am, during the first sitting of the National Assembly.

“It's done. We have a deal,” said a senior DA MP on condition of anonymity.

Sources said it had been agreed the DA will support Ramaphosa’s election as president, with agriculture minister Thoko Didiza as speaker and the ANC will support the election of a DA deputy speaker. The DA will field Annelie Lotriet for deputy speaker.

The ANC's Mdumiseni Ntuli is touted as the incoming chief whip.

The agreement signed by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and DA federal council chair Helen Zille states the composition of the GNU will be discussed and agreed among the parties whenever new parties want to become part of it.

Parties will co-operate in respect of the executive and/or legislature activities to advance shared goals.

“The GNU shall be constituted in a manner that reflects genuine inclusiveness of political parties that are party to this statement of intent and are represented in the National Assembly, broadly taking into account the number of seats parties have in the assembly and the need to advance the national interest.

The president shall, in constituting the executive, take into account the electoral outcomes.

“While recognising the president’s prerogative to appoint members of the executive, such appointments should be done in consultation with the leaders of the respective parties of the members considered for appointment.”

The GNU shall take decisions in accordance with the established practice of consensus.

“Where no consensus is possible, the principle of sufficient consensus shall apply.”

Sufficient consensus exists when: 

• All parties have had the opportunity to express their views;
• Despite reasonable attempts to resolve disagreements and find common ground, there is no general consensus;
• Parties to the GNU representing 60% of seats in the assembly agree; and
• Any party that disagrees has been able to formally record their objections.

The parties will establish dispute resolution or deadlock breaking mechanisms in instances where sufficient consensus is not reached.

Parties should raise disputes within the mechanisms created for this purpose.

“The parties recognise established government and cabinet protocols in decision-making and the formulation of the budget. This GNU statement of intent and modalities may guide approaches to provincial government in the interests of effective, stable and responsive governance which meets the needs of the people in a province,” it said.

“Parties to this agreement will form a GNU consultations council that will be responsible for consultations and monitoring progress on the minimum programme of the GNU and alignment of the seventh administration’s programme, its resourcing and implementation mechanisms.”

TimesLIVE