President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday evening host a dinner with all the political leaders of parties that are signatory to the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Review on the functioning of the GNU
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the purpose of the dinner is to provide an opportunity for a review on the functioning of the GNU thus far and to discuss in detail the formulation of a dispute resolution mechanism.
Magwenya was addressing a media briefing on Wednesday as well as updating the public on President Ramaphosa’s programme, and addressing topical issues of interest.
The dinner is taking place on the same day that Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill into law, which aims to strengthen governance within South Africa’s education sector.
In light of recent public statements relating to President Ramaphosa’s decision to sign into law the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, Magwenya said it was necessary to restate the president’s constitutional responsibilities in this regard.
‘Cannot refuse to sign the Bill for political reasons’
Quoting Section 79(1) of the Constitution he said: “The President must either assent to and sign a Bill passed in terms of this Chapter or, if the President has reservations about the constitutionality of the Bill, refer it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.”
“The President is not entirely surprised that there’s a dispute. The President anticipates there will be many other disputes in the course of the term. However, he expects that there is maturity, that there is ongoing commitment to the country such that we find ways of resolving these disputes without having to threaten the stability and the sustainability of this GNU.
“So that is important to underscore and as I’ve mentioned. Tonight, there will be an engagement over dinner with all leaders of parties who are signatory to the GNU, and they’ll all have an opportunity to express their concerns, but more constructively, to look at the way forward, to look at how these issues of disputes are resolved,” Magwenya said.
According to the Constitutional Court case in Doctors for Life International v Speaker, Magwenya highlighted that the President cannot refuse to sign the Bill for political reasons.
The only ground upon which the President can refuse to sign the Bill is constitutional reservations.
Satisfied with the work of the GNU
Magwenya said Ramaphosa remains satisfied with the work of the GNU and this evening is an opportunity for all party leaders to provide their own assessments and give feedback to the president.
Leaders will also be able to raise any issues of concern.
“The President is also enthused with the level of dedication and commitment that has been demonstrated by members of his national executive, as well as the level of collaboration that Ministers from different parties have applied in resolving challenges facing the government and the country,” he said.
Magwenya highlighted one example of such collaboration, which is the partnership between Minister John Steenhuisen and Minister Ronald Lamola in securing the new trade dispensation with China on South African beef.
He said Cyril Ramaphosa believes this dispensation will transform the South African beef industry and will create more participation opportunities for small scale black farmers.
Magwenya said it was disturbing that whenever there is a dispute, one will hear threats being made to the stability of the GNU.
“It is disturbing because such threats are not only directed to the president, they are directed to the stability of the country. There are threats directed to South Africans.
“The GNU must remain stable, must remain united, as it is called the GNU for the benefit of the country. It is not there for the benefit of any individual political leader. It has been formulated for the benefit of all South Africans,” he concluded.
