Ramaphosa's Letter To DA Leaked Ahead of Cabinet Announcement

A letter from  President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen  has leaked ahead of a new cabinet announcement.

In his letter, dated 25 June, Ramaphosa accused the DA of jeopardising the foundation of setting up a Government of National Unity (GNU).

Over recent days, leaks of the DA’s desires have made it into the public domain.

According to the leaked letter, the party wanting to be given at least 12 cabinet posts, including the position of deputy president.

A deal is yet to be struck following the DA’s refusal to accept a proposal put on the table by Ramaphosa on Wednesday night.

Ramaphosa, in a letter written through his office in the African National Congress (ANC), said the "DA is been the only party that’s made GNU talks difficult."

The president takes issue with the DA’s style of negotiating through correspondence, which he calls problematic and has now, ironically, resulted in several leaked letters.

Of this, he said it has led to parties playing to the public gallery and losing focus on the substance of negotiations currently under way.

He also spent time responding to the demands contained in the first letter sent to him by the DA, including requirements for a complete overhaul of the departments its members would be allocated.

The president referred to the push for a change of directors-general as a legally incompetent proposal to unilaterally redetermine their contractual agreements.

Meanwhile, the DA is due to meet over the latest offer while the ANC meets with other political parties.