9 May 1996
The SACP welcomes the decision of the national Party (NP) to leave the cabinet from the end of next month. All among the SACP has believed that a normal, majority government is the sensible and most democratic arrangement. The present power sharing GNU was a generous concession from the side of the ANC-led Alliance to the pleas of the NP and its allies.
The conviction about the desirability of a normal majority-party cabinet has been reinforced powerfully by the actual performance of the NP over the last two years. FW de Klerk's deputy presidency has been all but invisible. In other cases, NP ministers have blocked transformation or as lackluster performers, they have coasted along relying on the heavy work schedule of ANC deputy ministers.
The place of the NP is on the opposition benches. As for the cabinet, it is with a sense of relief the SACP says: "Goodbye, NP"
Issued by: SACP HQ