Sources have verified to IOL that President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to include DA members in his cabinet.
Ramaphosa’s intervention comes after negotiations between Lesufi and the DA broke down, resulting in Lesufi excluding the DA from his cabinet announcement.
Lesufi had planned to reveal his new cabinet on Sunday, with announcements also placed on social media, but the announcement was postponed hours later, reportedly due to Ramaphosa’s involvement.
The DA had demanded four MEC jobs, but Lesufi replied with an offer of three.
A top ANC source in Gauteng stated that Lesufi was prepared to proceed without the DA, but Ramaphosa intervened.
“The President’s mandate was clear: the inclusion of the DA is required to preserve the spirit of the GNU. Premier Lesufi must accommodate this demand, despite the initial collapse in negotiations, according to the source.
