Statement by President Jacob Zuma following meeting with leaders of political parties; Tuynhuys, Cape Town, August 27 2009

Deputy President Motlanthe
Honourable leaders of parties
Ladies and gentlemen of the media

I have just concluded a meeting with the leaders of all the parties represented in the National Assembly.

I wish to thank them for having accepted the invitation to this meeting and for having made the time for this important interaction.

Speaking at the Presidential Inauguration in May, I said that as South Africans we need to forge a partnership for reconstruction, development and progress.
I said that it should be a partnership founded on principles of mutual respect and the unfettered expression of different views. I said, "We do not seek conformity. We seek a vibrant, dynamic partnership that is enriched by democratic debate that values diverse views and accommodates dissent."

This meeting, I believe, is an important part of our efforts to build such a vibrant and dynamic partnership. It is a recognition that we share a common nationhood and a common future and that, whatever our differences, we each need to take responsibility for building that future. The parties that met here today collectively represent the people of South Africa.

Each of them has a mandate and each of them has a responsibility to the people who elected them. It is important to this administration that we should accord these parties the respect and consideration that we would want to accord to the people they represent.

Understanding that Parliament is the primary constitutional forum for interaction between political parties and government, we nevertheless thought it necessary to convene a meeting for direct, less formal discussion.

This meeting was a useful starting point for further direct engagement. The discussion today was, in my view, constructive and frank. We covered a number of issues relating to international and local developments. While we may not have always agreed with each other on every item, the discussion has enabled us to better understand each other's views.

I would like to think that party leaders leave here with a better sense of government's approach to critical issues facing the country and continent.
I know that I leave here with a greater appreciation of the positions of the parties.

We all leave here in agreement that we have a shared responsibility to the people of this country. The spirit of cooperation that we are seeking to forge does not excuse any of the parties in Parliament from holding the executive to account, nor does it prevent them from formulating and promoting their own policies and perspectives. We look forward to continued engagement.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency

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