Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng representative Solly Msimanga said his party had engaged in multiple negotiations with the African National Congress (ANC) and made its intentions clear, but the ANC had refused to listen to its proposals.
Msimanga said the ANC had offered the DA two cabinet posts but the two sides could not reach an agreement.
Msimanga disagrees with the ANC's PEC, which says the DA negotiated in good faith.
“Initially they tried to give the DA one MEC post but we said that won't work, it's an insult, they tried to make it two but we said that won't work. So we proposed that there should be three MEC posts, if we include other parties too.”
Meanwhile, the ANC in Gauteng has said it will not be intimidated by the DA into forming a so-called grand coalition government.
This comes after the Gauteng provincial executive council announcement was postponed again after the two parties could not reach an agreement. ANC provincial secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Ntsiza says the party is open to working with all parties in the Gauteng provincial assembly even if the DA does not join the party.
“The premier is ready to make an announcement. We were hopeful that we would be able to smoothly announce the executive. The reality is that we are in negotiations. We are following the ANC framework rather than forming a coalition or grand coalition government. To date, we have been at a deadlock with the DA on multiple occasions. As the ANC, we were ready to make an announcement.”