The African National Congress (ANC) is criticising Government of National Unity (GNU) parties that are using the media to make “outlandish and outrageous demands” for Cabinet positions.

This as reports of discord in the GNU make the rounds, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) making demands for specific positions, stalling GNU talks.

As of Sunday, the GNU consists of ten parties: the ANC, the DA, Inkatha Freedom Party, the GOOD party, the Patriotic Alliance, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, the Freedom Front Plus, the United Democratic Movement, Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah.

The ANC was firm that only the President has a final say on Cabinet appointments, and said it was against any unnecessary delays to the process once the Cabinet is formed – Phase 2 of the establishment of the GNU.

“Negotiating through leaking demands to the media is an act of bad faith and this practice will not help the cause of any party. It is only the President who has the final say on the appointment of his Cabinet. The GNU cannot be held to ransom by any single party. The people need a government to be established sooner, rather than later,” said the party on Monday.

The ANC noted that during the first phase of the GNU, parties had worked well to elect the President and Parliamentary heads.

It said the next phase would be based on an inclusive approach, and that GNU parties were to be considered for Legislature and Cabinet positions.

The ANC said President Cyril Ramaphosa was in consultation with other GNU party leaders and that he would announce his Cabinet “in the coming days”.

“Once Cabinet is formed, Parliament will then start its work to establish its structures, including portfolio committees and other structures of responsibility as prescribed by the Constitution. It is the ANC’s wish to see that these processes are not unnecessarily delayed, so that the seventh administration can get on with the urgent tasks of attending to the people’s priorities - tackling unemployment, growing an inclusive economy, industrialization, investing in people, improving and expanding quality basic services, tackling crime and corruption, and advancing nation-building and social cohesion, which are the issues that South Africans voted for. Similarly, the all-inclusive National Dialogue remains an urgent priority, to get all sectors of society, and indeed our nation, involved in solutions to these most urgent challenges we face,” the party said.