South African opposition parties holding crunch talks on the ANC's unity plan. But deep rifts remain
South African opposition parties are meeting and will continue crunch talks into next week to consider the ruling African National Congress’ offer to become part of a government of national unity
JOHANNESBURG — South African opposition parties were meeting Friday and will continue crunch talks into next week to consider the ruling African National Congress' offer to become part of a government of national unity.
ANC failed to secure a majority in last week's highly contested election, but some opposition parties are already rejecting the party's offer because of deep-seated divisions.
Senior officials of the main opposition Democratic Alliance, or DA, will meet on Monday to discuss the centrist party's approach to the negotiations. The top leadership of the the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters, or EFF, party were holding talks on Friday.
Parties are under pressure to conclude negotiations and reach an agreement by June 16, because South Africa's constitution requires them to do so within 14 days after the declaration of the election results.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is ANC leader, announced on Thursday that the party had decided to form a government of national unity and had invited all parties to join, a process that is expected to be complex considering vast divisions among the opposition parties themselves.
Most of the opposition parties don't differ only with the ANC on various socioeconomic policies, but are also at extreme odds with each other on economic policies like land redistribution and affirmative action.
Opposition party ActionSA has already declared it won't be part of the negotiations, saying that it refuses to work with the ANC.
In what looks likely to be a government of national
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