Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie. Image: Facebook/Gayton McKenzie
Patriotic Alliance will leave GNU if they don’t get a Cabinet post
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie had demanded the Home Affairs portfolio during the GNU negotiations.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie. Image: Facebook/Gayton McKenzie
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie says his party would leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) if they do not get a Cabinet post.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce his cabinet and other members of the executive on Sunday at 21:00.
PATRIOTIC ALLIANCE THREATENS TO LEAVE GNU
Speaking ahead of Ramaphosa’s highly-anticipated announcement, McKenzie said he doesn’t believe Ramaphosa would not give the party a position, however, if he does not, then they would leave the GNU.
The Patriotic Alliance was among the first parties to sign the Statement of Intent when the ANC invited other political parties to form part of the GNU. This came after the ANC support declined to just 40% in the 29 May National and Provincial Elections.
As a result, the new national executive will constitute the seventh democratic administration as a Government of National Unity comprising a diversity of political parties
Notably, the PA obtained nine seats in the National Assembly and is also represented in other provincial legislatures.
DA ACCUSED OF DEMANDING HOME AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO TO SPITE PA
Ahead of the election results announcement, McKenzie said they are going to demand the Home Affairs portfolio during coalition negotiations.
McKenzie has always advocated for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants.
In an interview with eNCA, McKenzie said his sources confirmed that the Democratic Alliance (DA) would get the Home Affairs portfolio.
“I can’t let the people that voted for us to be humiliated. If they don’t give us a post in cabinet tonight we’re out of the GNU. The majority of the people that voted for us need to be represented.
“If you say we’re not worthy to be there with nine seats in Parliament, we can use our nine seats elsewhere,” the Patriotic Alliance leader said.
In a leaked letter to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, Helen Zille said they want the DA to be represented across the board. This would include key departments such as mineral resources and energy, transport, trade, and industry, as well as public works, higher education and public service and administration, home affairs, justice, international relations and communication, and digital technologies.
According to reports, the DA will be in charge of six portfolios including:
- Agriculture and rural development
- Public Works and Infrastructure
- Home Affairs
- Basic Education
- Forestry, fisheries and environmental affairs
- Communication and digital technology
The DA will have six of its members as deputies in the following portfolios:
- Trade, industry and competition
- Finance
- Water and Sanitation
- Higher Education
