For the first time in 30 years, the ANC welcomed leaders from other political parties affiliated with the government of national unity (GNU) to the Cabinet lekgotla, which began yesterday at the presidential guest home in Pretoria.
Following the United African Transformation’s resignation from the GNU earlier this week, members of eight political parties were invited to the two-day lekgotla to debate the new government plan, which would include policy amendments.
Only Rise Mzansi, the ninth party with two seats in Parliament, was not invited since its leader, Songezo Zibi, does not serve in the Cabinet. This week, Zibi was chosen chairwoman of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa).
Scopa is considered a powerful committee because it oversees the finances of all government departments and state organisations, including the Auditor-General and the Public Protector.
Zibi acknowledged that his party was not invited to the lekgotla because “I am the referee and cannot take part in an event where I will be required to hold the executive and departments accountable.”
He clarified: “If I was invited or if I was attending [the meeting], it was going to be wrong because I cannot be a player and a referee at the same time.”
Before the invitation was delivered, the political parties were asked to submit their manifestos to the presidency’s director-general and several government ministries for review.
This allowed the directors-general to review them all and create a policy document that would be submitted and discussed at the lekgotla.
According to Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the goal of the lekgotla was to establish the agenda and priorities for the seventh government, which was constituted following the results of the national and provincial elections on May 29.