The New National Party (NNP) and the African National Congress held talks on Tuesday night to discuss the representation of the NNP in the Western Cape government.
According to informed sources the ANC team included national Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, Western Cape provincial leader Ebrahim Rasool and Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya while the NNP team included national leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Cape Town deputy mayor Pierre Uys, outgoing Western Cape Tourism MEC Joyce Witbooi, Local Government MEC Kobus Dowry, and Health MEC Piet Meyer.
While the talks are expected to continue on Wednesday, it is understood that the NNP are unhappy with the offer of two posts in the 11-seat Cabinet. In the last administration the NNP held six seats including the premiership which position was held by Van Schalkwyk — who has opted to move to the national assembly after losing two-thirds of his party’s support base in the April 14 national and provincial election.
It is not clear at this stage which posts in the provincial government will be offered to the NNP in an ANC-led administration, but it is understood that Witbooi, the most senior female member of the NNP in the legislature, will get one of the posts while Uys — who will have to resign his post as deputy mayor — will get the other. If a third post is on offer it is likely to go to Dowry, a former South African Broadcasting Corporation television news anchorman. – I-Net Bridge