The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) has taken a decision to form a government of national unity to rule the country for the next five years. This was announced by ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa late last night after a special NEC meeting that was held at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng yesterday.

We also extend our thanks to the people of South Africa, who turned out in their millions to vote and to reaffirm their confidence in democracy and the future of our country. https://t.co/p0LEGJcePh

— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) June 6, 2024

DUMPING COALITION GOVERNMENT

This was not what was expected as many thought that the ANC would go into a coalition government with the DA or other parties like the MK Party and the EFF. The decision means that the Parliament will resume in the next two upcoming weeks with all the political parties represented in Parliament joining in the executive. Ramaphosa announced that the NEC agreed that this moment calls for the multi-party cooperation. "After a robust discussion with the NEC, we have decided to settle for the government of unity which will not be exclusive to other parties. We will do so by engaging other all political parties that are represented in Parliament to form a government of national unity," Ramaphosa said.

"We have already spoken to EFF, IFP, DA, PA, NFP and PA. The NEC has agreed to seek further engagements on the government of national unity. It is important that after the toxic election campaign that we had, that all the parties be involved in the government of national unity to move the country forward," he said.

ENGAGEMENTS

Ramaphosa further said that the ANC will form a task team that will be led by their secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to engage all the parties on the government of unity. "Any party that is seeking to cause instability will not be entertained. We believe that there is a need for a national dialogue on the government on the national unity," he said.