Political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast says forming a minority government is not what the country needs if the seventh administration fails to form a Government of National Unity (GNU). Professor Breakfast made the comments amid protracted negotiations over the GNU, which was formed after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the May 29 elections.
It has been a week since Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as the country's president in a hotly contested election on May 29. But Ramaphosa is yet to announce his presidential title.
This has led to speculation about the possibility of a minority government, but Professor Breakfast says that is not what the country needs.
“The government is weak and could collapse at any moment. That is the dire situation in our country. In a parliamentary system, if you pass a budget or a bill but you don't get a majority, the government cannot survive. What does that mean for the country?”
South Africa has been without a cabinet since President Ramaphosa was sworn in last Wednesday. Professor Breakfast says this does not send a good message to the markets and that Ramaphosa needs to convene a cabinet immediately.
“There are things that have to be driven at a political level, a strategy has to be driven at a political level in terms of the direction of the country, but who is driving the strategy right now? There is no strategy, there is nothing. There are no political leaders. Imagine the type of messaging that is being given to the market.”
The parties set to form the GNU, excluding the DA, have 200 seats in parliament, giving President Ramaphosa the potential to form a government. For now, negotiations on the GNU are still ongoing.