Ntshavheni denies Cabinet Lekgotla was used to settle GNU disputes

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has dispelled the notion that the Cabinet Lekgotla has been the battleground to resolve disputes amongst GNU partners.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of that meeting which took place at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Wednesday, Ntshavheni says there are structures and mechanisms where political parties can express their concerns about the workings of the 7th administration.

The Lekgotla sought to lay out a plan of action for the GNU for the year ahead – with issues such as South Africa’s involvement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the impact of the withdrawal of US funding for HIV and AIDS and illegal mining highlighted.

Cabinet Lekgotla I GNU matters & SA economy

Bela & NHI

The recently signed Expropriation Bill as well as the Bela and National Health Insurances Acts have seen the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) at loggerheads, with speculation that these differences could spell disaster for the GNU.

Such a notion has been dismissed by the Minister in the Presidency. “We are meeting as GNU and we are not bringing party political interests we are going to negotiate and discuss as members of cabinet and representatives of provinces represented by their premiers and we work for the best benefit of our country not the best benefit our parties so the engagements are in the level of us being ministers or deputy ministers in the national executive so the threats of the DA or the ANC or whatever they must resolve them at the structures created by their parties to deal with that dispute in line with the founding statement of the GNU that was subjected by the parties.”