DA leader John Steenhausen at the IEC results centre in Midrand during the 2024 elections. (Alfonso Nkunjana/News24)
- The DA's negotiating framework puts the constitution at the centre of discussions with the ANC.
- The party argues that the independence of the South African Reserve Bank must be respected and that the executive placements are illegal.
- The parties are scheduled to meet later Friday.
The DA's framework document for negotiations with the ANC states that the party will be interested in any governing arrangement that is based on key tenets of the constitution.
The document, which will be used as the starting point for the first official meeting between the ANC and DA on Friday, says any governance structure must be subject to the supreme law of the land.
The DA's negotiating principles are as follows:
1. Promotion and protection of the Constitution
2. Providing efficient and fair public services
3. A sustainable fiscal framework for a stable and growing economy
4. Devolution of power to the states.
The DA is particularly supportive of Operation Vulindlela, a joint venture between the Office of the President and the Ministry of Finance, which aims to remove bottlenecks in the province, promote governance and policy reforms, and advance three work streams consisting of government and the private sector.
“We believe that the full and urgent implementation of Operation Vulindlela is essential to its success and will focus on seven priority areas: unbundling Eskom, handing over of ports, establishing a water regulatory authority, implementing a skilled worker visa programme, reforming title deeds to expand land ownership, reforming mineral rights and rapidly expanding spectrum.”
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The DA also specifically mentions that the independence of the South African Reserve Bank should be protected and that the placement of executives should be made illegal.
These two positions could become a source of conflict in the negotiations. The ANC has repeatedly said it has no intention of ending its cadre deployment policy.
The EFF has also advocated for the nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank and has made calls for nationalisation, among other demands, part of its policy platform.
The DA has also proposed an operating model to guide the functioning of a multiparty government, including a dispute resolution mechanism.
