Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
27 June 2024 | 14:22 CAT

The ANC is pleased to welcome the 10 founding political parties to the Government of National Unity as follows: ANC, PA, DA, IFP, GOOD, PAC, FF+, UDM, Rise Mzansi and Al Jamah. Image/ X

Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah, the latest parties to join the Government of National Unity (GNU), have added to the unity and collaboration in the country’s political landscape. Their decision brings the total number of participating parties to 10, a significant milestone in the National Assembly’s journey towards a more unified governance.

Rise Mzansi decided to join the GNU after internal party discussions, which aimed to ensure that its key manifesto issues were prioritised in the government.

Rise Mzansi spokesperson Gugu Ndima made it clear that the party’s decision to join the GNU was not driven by a desire for Cabinet positions but by a steadfast commitment to its policy goals. This reassures the public of the party’s dedication to addressing the country’s pressing issues.

“We believe that as a new party that managed two seats at National Parliament and 1 seat at the legislature it would be more effective to work in collaboration with other organisations in ensuring we have a stable government,” she says.

Rise Mzansi believes the GNU can help it implement its manifesto, which addresses hunger, food insecurity, and crime and delivers economic justice to marginalised South Africans.

The seventh-largest party in Parliament, the FF+, which joined the GNU on Thursday, echoed a similar sentiment to Rise Mzansi, stating that its participation in the GNU was based on influencing policy rather than seeking positions.

Formed after the 29 May elections, which saw a significant shift in the political landscape with the emergence of several new parties, the GNU aims to provide a collaborative platform to address South Africa’s pressing issues, such as poverty, inequality and corruption. With the addition of Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah and other parties, the GNU now has a more comprehensive representation and a stronger mandate to drive positive change.

The ANC welcomed the expansion, noting that the first phase of parties joining the GNU has concluded with ten parties now on board, representing more than 70% of the vote in the 2024 elections.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie here.