ANC WELCOMES POLITICAL PARTIES TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

22 June 2024

The African National Congress (ANC) is pleased to announce the establishment of an historic agreement between 10 South African political parties to form a Government of National Unity (GNU) for the 7th democratic administration.

The outcome of the 2024 National and Provincial Election has made it clear that 30 years into democracy, South Africans want political parties to work together to solve the important challenges facing the country and improve the lives of our people.

As stated by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his inauguration address:

"In their multitude, in voices that are many and diverse, the people of South Africa have voted and made known their wishes, their concerns and their expectations.

They did not give any single party the full mandate to govern our country alone.

They have directed us to work together to address their plight and realise their aspirations."

The ANC is pleased to welcome the 10 founding political parties to the Government of National Unity as follows: ANC, PA, DA, IFP, GOOD, PAC, FF+, UDM, Rise Mzansi and Al Jamah.#GNU#LetsDoMoreTogether pic.twitter.com/uMedrCA6sJ

— African National Congress (@MYANC) June 23, 2024

The ANC, as the party that received the most votes, after considering various options towards the formation of Government, resolved that the GNU model would best fit the national interest and took the initiative to engage all parties which won parliamentary seats towards the formation of a Government of National Unity.

The ANC proposed a Statement of Intent (S01) for the GNU and invited all parties with seats in the 7th Democratic Parliament to engage with the founding principles, the minimum programme of government and the modalities of the GNU. All 10 political party signatories of the SOI are expected to put South Africa and its people ahead of narrow party interests.

The first expression of the GNU at work was on the 14th and 15th June 2024 which saw parties cooperating on the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces to lead Parliament and the President of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to lead the 7th administration as Head of State and government.

Following two weeks of intense engagements, ten of the eighteen parties with seats in the National Assembly have signed the GNU Statement of Intent, indicating their willingness to cooperate to put the people of South Africa first.

The founding parties that have signed to join the ANC-led Government of National Unity in both the Executive and Parliament are (date of signature in brackets):

- African National Congress ANC (14 June 2024)

- Democratic Alliance DA (14 June 2024)

- Patriotic Alliance PA (14 June 2024)

- Inkatha Freedom Party IFP (15 June 2024)

- GOOD (15 June 2024)

- Pan Africanist Congress of Azania PAC (18 June 2024)

- Vryheidsfront Plus FF+ (20 June 2024)

- United Democratic Movement UDM (21 June 2024)

·   Rise Mzansi (21 June 2024)

·   Al Jama-ah (22 June 2024)

The first phase of parties to join the GNU initiative has therefore been concluded. The parties constituting the GNU together secured over 70% of the vote in the 2024 elections, ensuring broad representativity and a strong mandate to govern. These parties have agreed to be bound by the foundational principles outlined in the Statement of Intent, and to work together to pursue its objectives.

Any further parties wishing to join the GNU will be subject to clause 24 of the Statement of Intent which states that:

"In keeping with the spirit of an inclusive GNU, it is agreed that the composition shall be discussed and agreed amongst the existing parties, whenever new parties desire to be part of the GNU." (S01, C124. 2024)

The Year of United Action M Defend our Freedom and Advance a Better Life For All: Forward to a Decisive Victory!

The engagements with the signatory parties to the GNU on the formation of the Executive has started, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce appointments to the Executive in the coming days.

The ANC remains in open communication with the parties that have not joined the GNU, exploring various ways

in which there can be collaboration on building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

Let's do more, together.

Statement issued by Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, ANC national spokesperson, 22 June 2024

🚨The ANC now has brought in sufficient parties to the GNU to secure 200 seats in the national assembly, excluding those of the DA. pic.twitter.com/f2hNZEIUPC

— Politicsweb (@Politicsweb) June 22, 2024