Political analyst Dr Levy Ndu says the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s withdrawal from the African National Congress (ANC)-led Gauteng unity government is unlikely to affect the two parties' working relationship at national level.
The DA is currently part of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the party's leader, John Steenhuisen, as the new Minister of Agriculture.
However, in Gauteng, the DA has refused to join the GPU as talks between the two sides have stalled.
After three weeks of intense debate to form a Gauteng unity government, the province's executive cabinet, which excludes the DA, was announced on Wednesday.
But political analyst Levi Ndu says there is no need to panic. “The current situation has taught us that the dynamics at national and provincial levels are different, and that is evident from the performance of different parties in their respective fields. Given what has happened in Gauteng, I don't see any negative impacts at the national level because Gauteng has its own dynamics, just like the nation.”
The DA's decision to reject a provincial unity government came because the party felt the options presented to it were unreasonable.
This led to the resignation of Gauteng provincial legislature deputy speaker Refilwe Ntseke.
The ANC has offered the DA three of the 10 MEC posts, but DA federal chairperson Helen Zille says the ANC's offer does not reflect the May 29 elections.
“And in the case of Gauteng, we believe that in the GNU and GPU, we have a right to proportional reflection based on inclusiveness.”
Meanwhile, Presidential Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni encouraged political parties that have signed up to the GNU to work together, saying they are operating under one government.
“Our priority is South Africa. When we said that, we were saying that our priority is South Africa, not the party you come from. And when we come into cabinet, we take off our party hats and we are the government of the Republic of South Africa and we govern for everyone.”
The ministers are expected to assume their duties immediately after taking the oath of office on Wednesday. They will have an in-depth discussion of the country's actions at the Lekgotla Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday next week.
Video | Provincial GNU | Political analyst Dr Levi Ndu's analysis of the Gauteng Cabinet:
