The Democratic Alliance (DA) highlighted on Friday that it has now entered national government - of which Cyril Ramaphosa is the preferred presidential candidate - as well as provincial government in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

This after the party, together with the African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) reached agreement on the Statement of Intent for the formation of a government of national unity (GNU).

Following the May 29 elections, the ANC lost its outright majority, pushing the party to seek other political parties to form a national government with.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said the Statement of Intent that was signed on Friday emerged from two weeks of “intense but mature negotiations”, and charted a new course for South Africa.

“In order to give effect to this vision, the Democratic Alliance will now step up to contribute our unique track record of good, clean and accountable governance to the national project,” he highlighted.

Steenhuisen noted that in terms of the agreement, the DA would 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 share of seats within the GNU.

He explained that the DA would no longer only be an opposition party at national level, noting that this same model of inclusive and broadly proportional representation in the executive and legislative positions will also apply in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

“This arrangement ensures that the voices of DA voters will now be heard in all the rooms where decisions are made about the future of our country,” he said.

He stated that the DA’s “signature contribution” to the GNU would come in the form of the party’s “unique track record” of service delivery, job creation, and its commitment to clean and accountable governance.

“For the very first time, the DA will now be able to bring the same expertise that we honed in places like Cape Town, Midvaal, uMngeni, Kouga and the Western Cape, to serve all the people of South Africa,” said Steenhuisen.

He highlighted that GNU negotiations will take place in phases, with phase one being the adoption of the Statement of Intent, which enables the GNU to elect presiding officers in Parliament, as well as a President.

He explained that the GNU’s presidential candidate, being Ramaphosa, came from the largest party inside the grouping.

Steenhuisen announced that following Ramaphosa’s election as the President on Friday he will then exercise his prerogative to appoint his new Cabinet from among the members of the GNU, in consultation with the leaders of its constituent parties.

“The next phase of the process will then commence in the form of a Lekgotla Strategy Session to develop a detailed policy agenda, including policy priorities for the GNU,” he explained.

He noted that the two-week deadline imposed by the Constitution for the formation of a government was simply not sufficient in this new multiparty context.

He highlighted that although this marks a “hopeful and historic” moment for the country, it is important that parties were honest about the scale of the challenge that lay ahead.

He said problems would not be solved overnight.

“It will take years of sustained hard work, perseverance, maturity and cooperation across all sectors of society to get our country back on track. But the DA will be there with you, the people of South Africa, for every step along the way,” he said.