(Bloomberg) — A structure that aims to enable South Africa’s 10-party coalition government to resolve disputes met for the first time and agreed to further discuss a new education bill that has divided the partners.
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Deputy President Paul Mashatile presided over the first meeting on Wednesday of the so-called clearing-house mechanism, which will help ensure all participants in the government “develop a common understanding of critical policy matters,” the presidency said in a statement. The cabinet will, however, remain the final government decision-making body.
“It was appreciated that contradictions are inevitable in coalition governments,” the presidency said in a statement after the meeting.
The next meeting will take place on Oct. 24 and will consider reports on South Africa’s upcoming presidency of the G20 as well as, “policy challenges such as the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, specifically on the two clauses that the president has asked that they form part of the engagement with relevant parties.”
A government of national unity was established after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in May 29 elections, and it has identified growing the economy and creating jobs as its top priority.
While its business-friendly approach drove a rally in the rand and stock markets over the course of its first 100 days in office, parties remain at loggerhead over the ANC’s plans to implement a national health insurance plan and change its schools’ admission policy.
Presidency spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the coalition government is likely to see out its five-year term.
“We are equally confident that, not withstanding disagreements that are yet to emerge, no member of the GNU is going to leave,” he told reporters on Wednesday. That view has been reinforced “now that you have a mechanism that will be engaged on issues of dispute,” he said.
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