John Steenhuisen, the leader of the DA, confirmed this afternoon that the party will join hands with the ANC and IFP to form a Government of National Unity (GNU).

Steenhuisen made the announcement just after 13:00, saying the agreement was reached after the first sitting of the new National Assembly had started earlier today.

“Following the signing of this document by the leaders of the respective parties involved – including the DA, the IFP and the ANC – the DA will now enter national government, as well as provincial government in the provinces of Gauteng and KZN,” Steenhuisen said.

According to him, the agreement was reached after two weeks of ‘intense but mature negotiations’, and said it charts a new course for the nation.

“At the heart of this GNU statement, is a shared respect for, and defence of, our Constitution and the rule of law, including the Bill of Rights – in its entirety.

“It is a document that is realistic about the need for mechanisms to deal with the disagreements that will inevitably arise in a multiparty government, adopting the threshold of ‘sufficient consensus’ that served our country well during the CODESA [Convention for a Democratic South Africa] negotiations.”

According to Steenhuisen, the basic minimum programme contained in the statement reflects key pledges contained in the election manifesto of the DA and other parties, including:

• Rapid economic growth and job creation;
• Tackling poverty and the high cost of living;
• Building a merit-based, non-partisan and professional public service that puts the people first;
• Strengthening law enforcement agencies to address crime, corruption and gender-based violence; and
• Investing in people through better education, skills development and quality healthcare.

He said the DA will assume various leadership roles in the national Cabinet, the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces, and on parliamentary portfolio committees, broadly in proportion to the party’s share of seats within the GNU.

Watch Steenhuisen’s address: