President Jacob Zuma and opposition party leaders held a ”constructive” and ”frank” discussion on Wednesday amid a renewed spirit of cooperation.
”There were no issues of disagreement really,” Zuma told journalists in a briefing at Tuynhuys, attended by 12 opposition political parties.
”We talked about what contribution opposition parties could make in making South Africa a better country.”
Zuma gathered ”a greater appreciation of the parties” during the meeting.
”The discussion today was, in my view, constructive and frank,” Zuma said.
”We covered a number of issues relating to international and local developments.
”While we may not have always agreed with each other on every item, the discussion has enabled us to better understand each other’s views.”
Zuma hoped the meeting with his opponents would be the start of a culture that would continue ”for a long time”.
Eight opposition parties held cooperation talks on Wednesday, announcing that they had formed a committee to mull ways on working together in Parliament.
The United Democratic Movement, Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People, Inkatha Freedom Party, Independent Democrats, African Christian Democratic Party and the United Christian Democratic Party agreed to meet on a regular basis to ensure ”multi-party democracy is strengthened and the threat of one-party dominance averted”. — Sapa