The ANC will include a cessation of motions of no confidence on a sitting president as part of coalition talks with the DA and other parties during negotiations.
The ANC is expected to present its proposal for a coalition arrangement with the DA when the two parties meet on Monday for their first formal engagement after the elections.
TimesLIVE Premium understands the ANC will present different models to the blue party, one of which will include a “supply and confidence agreement” modelled from Canada’s minority government formation.
A draft document by the ANC, which TimesLIVE Premium has seen, indicates the agreement is similar to a minority government, where one or more supporting parties form a pact to support the government in key votes in exchange for policy concessions or involvement in the legislative process.
The supply and confidence agreements allow minority governments to function without formal coalitions, providing flexibility and ensuring multiple political perspectives can influence government policy.
“This type of agreement is particularly crucial in minority government situations where the ruling party does not hold an outright majority in the legislature,” the document stated.
Sunday Times reported the ANC will try to sell a government of national unity (GNU) as its first option in coalition talks with political parties.
The GNU option is perceived as an attempt by the ANC to manage the process of forming a government and avoid the backlash that would come with choosing between the DA and the MK Party and EFF.
The three other options include a grand coalition, a minority government, or a call for a rerun of the elections should parliament fail to reach a quorum during its first sitting.
Party insiders said the ANC would tell potential partners they would have to agree on the passing of the budget, security, protecting the constitution and the judiciary.
The deal would open the way for opposition leaders to be elected as speaker of the National Assembly
We want to achieve stability, constitutionality, the rule of law. All of those things must begin to guide us but equally how do you satisfy the interest of the ANC constituency that voted?
— Fikile Mbalula, ANC secretary-general
In a supply and confidence agreement the goal is to ensure the government can survive key votes in parliament, particularly on matters of budget and major legislation, the document stated.
“The supporting party or parties agree to vote with the government on important issues, primarily the budget and any confidence motions. Confidence motions are critical because a lost confidence vote can force the government to resign, possibly leading to a new election,” it said.
The ANC has been the subject of countless motions of no confidence, mainly from its official opposition, the DA and the EFF, during past administrations.
Former president Jacob Zuma, who formed his own party which ultimately toppled the ANC as the majority party in the elections, survived at least five motions of no confidence and one attempt to remove him through the constitution during his two terms.
In March, the DA tabled a motion of no confidence against then speaker and ANC veteran Nosiviwe Mapisa — Nqakula after her arrest on corruption charges.
In return for supporting the ANC, the supporting parties typically negotiate for specific policy commitments from the government.
“These might involve legislative actions, budgetary allocations or changes to proposed laws that align with the supporting party’s agenda. For example, in Canada the New Democrat Party required policy concessions from the Liberal Party minority government around the creation of a national dental care plan to enable access for low-income individuals to dental care,” the document stated.
The party’s document stated the agreement would spell out the duration and specific terms, including which policies will be pursued and the conditions under which the agreement might be terminated.
“This agreement can provide stability to a minority government by ensuring it has enough support to pass essential legislation and budgets. At the same time it holds the government accountable to the supporting parties, reflecting a broader range of interests than the government party alone might represent,” it said.
During a media briefing on Sunday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the ANC will be guided by ideology and principle in their negotiations, adding the party would define models of working within a coalition.
“We want to achieve stability, constitutionality, the rule of law. All of those things must begin to guide us, but equally how do you satisfy the interest of the ANC constituency that voted?
“Those six-million people and more, how are they going to be served by the working relations of these parties? We can assure you we are applying our mind,” he said.
In his national address, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party will be guided by its fundamental commitment to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, promoting nonracialism, effecting clean, accountable government with zero tolerance for corruption and building a social market economy that creates jobs.
He said its engagements with other parties will also be rooted in the seven apex priorities outlined in the DA’s manifesto.
“These include to create two-million new jobs, end load-shedding and water-shedding, halve the rate of violent crime, abolish cadre deployment, lift six-million people out of poverty, triple the number of grade 4 learners who can read for meaning and ensure quality healthcare for all,” Steenhuisen said.
EFF president Julius Malema said he would work with the ANC, setting a list of demands.
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