BOSA considers GNU partnership, calls for National Convention

BOSA considers GNU partnership, calls for National Convention

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Build One South Africa (BOSA) has called for a National Convention comprising all parliamentary parties.

According to BOSA, this will pave the way for a transparent agreement on the composition of a new national government.

The call by the movement comes amid ongoing talks between members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) ahead of the formation of the executive cabinet that will serve in the seventh administration.

BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane reveals that his organisation recently held a meeting with the African National Congress (ANC), which Maimane adds resulted in a “clearer understanding” of how and whether BOSA would participate in any governing arrangement going forward.

He says BOSA took interest in an arrangement that places, amongst others, justice and redress, constitutionalism and the rule of law as well as eradication of crime on the agenda.

BOSA says it looks forward to more meaningful engagements.

EFF expresses willingness to partner with ANC for 7th Administration

EFF expresses willingness to partner with ANC for 7th Administration

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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has written to the African National Congress (ANC) expressing their willingness to work with the party amid talks to form the seventh administration.

However, the EFF’s offer hinges on the exclusion of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
This is revealed in a letter to the ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula penned by the EFF’s Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini.

The EFF believes that based on the ANC and EFF election manifestos, there is more to bring them together to co-govern.

In the lengthy letter, the EFF proposes a new agreement or Statement of Intent between the EFF and ANC instead of the ANC’s Statement of Intent agreed to by the GNU partners.

This new agreement would have to, amongst others, include the principles of redress and equality.

The EFF further adds that it is willing to participate in any executive as long as the DA and FF Plus are not included.

In addition, the party also affirms the principle that the President and Premiers have the prerogative to determine the composition of the executive after consultation with the leadership of the EFF.

However, it found it key to express the party’s desire to be represented in all the clusters of national government, as ministers or deputies as well as roles in the legislatures.

This letter comes amid ongoing talks and the imminent announcement of the next executive by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

ANC and DA disagreements

10 days have lapsed since President Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated for a second term, and the new cabinet that forms the Government of National Unity has yet to be announced.

South Africans are now urging government to get on with it and announce the new cabinet for the seventh administration. Both the ANC and DA have so far failed to agree on the allocation of ministerial posts.

These citizens say that time is being wasted with the back and forth between the ANC and the DA.

“The DA they are showing that they are hungry for power. They can’t ask for too much. What we want is the government to work for the people. It’s good that they are open and transparent in the beginning before it’s too late into the new government. We don’t want to continuously hear about their controversies and what they agreed to and what they didn’t, I think they should get cracking now, get cracking with fixing the water. I think they should share the power in such a way that the public is happy. Because at the end of the day, it’s about the voters. That’s what politics is about, it’s about power and position. So, ya, even if there is a cabinet I will not be focussing on my phone at half past four, it’s all about the Proteas for me.” -Additional reporting by Taresh Harreeparshad

Dr Ongama Mtimka in anticipation of the much-awaited announcement of GNU:

Steve Biko Foundation scoffs at position jostling in GNU

Steve Biko Foundation scoffs at position jostling in GNU

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The Steve Biko Foundation has expressed concern over talks on the formation of the seventh administration, leaning on positions instead of the agenda for South Africans.

This was revealed in a gathering of Foundations, named after eminent South Africans, aimed at paving a way forward towards the attainment of the deferred dream for the country, amid much uncertainty 30 years into democracy.

The civic society groups say the time is now, for all citizens to engage in defining a clear vision, and a unified programme that will inspire new national hope.

Decades ago on 26 June 1955, amid the intensifying struggle for freedom, the ANC saw it fit to formulate a clear statement for the future South Africa and invited the whole of the nation to heed its call.

This led to the birth of the Freedom Charter where the demands of the Congress of the People towards a constitutional reality, found expression.

Fast forward to today, 30-years into democracy, a similar call is being made to citizens to develop a common vision to bolster the country’s democracy, amid concerns about the critical state that the country finds itself in.

“South Africa is in a political crisis at this moment, for the first time in 30-years, the electorate have decided not to give any political party a majority vote. This has presented an opportunity for citizens, for communities and for everyone to review the past years and to focus on what’s going wrong and how that can be addressed. The results produced by the 2024 elections calls upon all of us to reflect on the South Africa we want for the future and our children,” says chairperson of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi,.

The Foundations believe that an urgent, inclusive citizen-led national intervention in the form of a dialogue is required to restore, what it terms, as the legitimacy, credibility and enhancement of the South African democratic project.

“It is time for every South African to take part in paving a new way forward. We call on all citizens to engage in defining a clear vision and establishing a unifying programme that inspires new national hope,” says executive trustee at the Steve Biko Foundation, Nkosinathi Biko.

This call comes during a period of uncertainty in the country, as the nation waits to see what the formation of seventh administration will look like. A process that has triggered concern from the Steve Biko Foundation.

“I can tell you from the perspective of the Steve Biko Foundation, it is of great concern that all of these discussions that are happening up to now are around power. There is no message that has landed yet in our view that there is concern about things beyond power,” Biko added.

It is the Foundations’ expectation that the National Dialogue will produce a national compact that is a collective guide to fulfilling the aspirations of the nation.

Video: National Dialogue – Concerns over the state of affairs in SA

MK Party’s bid to nullify polls lacks evidence of irregularities: IEC

MK Party’s bid to nullify polls lacks evidence of irregularities: IEC

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The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says in its court papers that the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s bid to nullify the 2024 national and provincial elections bears no evidence of material irregularities.

The Commission filed its answering affidavit in the Electoral Court to oppose the application which the IEC contends is founded on what it terms as a “litany of wholly unsupported assertions”.

This comes after the MK Party filed papers earlier this month, seeking an order declaring that the 2024 May elections were not free and fair, and therefore invalid.

The party alleged voter discrepancy of just over nine million votes that it says cannot be accounted for.

In papers, the IEC notes its concern around what it terms as serious and prejudicial allegations made by the MK Party which strike at the integrity of the commission, the 2024 May polls and South Africa’s Constitutional democratic order.

The Commission further submits that the MK Party has not produced any credible and admissible evidence to support these allegations adding that the only inference which can be drawn from this approach is that the allegations were made with the aim of “inflaming the passions of the public”.

The IEC is asking the specialist court to dismiss the application with an appropriate costs order.

2024 Elections | Electoral Court issues directives in MK Party case:

Electoral Court issues directives in MK’s bid to invalidate elections

Electoral Court issues directives in MK’s bid to invalidate elections

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The Electoral Court has issued out directives in the newly-formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) political party’s bid to invalidate the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. The specialist court has given respondents until Tuesday to file responding affidavits.

In addition, the applicant, the MK Party, will have until Thursday to file a replying affidavit. The Court further noted that it has the right to dispose of this matter on the papers without referral to oral hearing.

These directives come after the MK Party filed papers seeking an order from the specialist court which would invalidate the May polls and direct the President to call for a new national election to be held.

An affidavit by the MK Party National Organiser, Nathi Nhleko says prior to the declaration of the 2024 elections results, the party had already registered grave objections to the lawfulness of the May polls based on what the party terms as “serious voting irregularities”.

To support its claim, the party attached an analysis alleging voter discrepancy of just over nine million votes that it says cannot be accounted for.

The party has been calling for new elections: