ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said on Wednesday leading the smallest caucus of his party in Parliament since 1994 was a very challenging task.
“What we have understood as the current caucus of the ANC is that unlike in the past, all of us in the seventh administration are required to effectively apply ourselves to the work of Parliament.
“There is no room for anyone to disappear for a day or two given that numbers are not on our side,” Ntuli said.
He was briefing the media in Parliament when reflecting on the work of the caucus since its establishment after the May elections and outlined their priorities.
Ntuli said as ANC members they have to double their efforts.
“We have the responsibility to advance the most superior logic in the work of Parliament.”
Ntuli revealed that parties in the GNU have a chief forum, which he chairs.
“This is a platform where we exchange ideas about what issues are before Parliament.
“We understand there may be issues we ourselves disagree on as parties in GNU and the committee we made, never mind how much we disagree, we must never run away from engagements.”
However, Ntuli pointed out that it did not mean there would not be a time of disagreements.
“There will still be time when we disagree and each party stands on its position so as to persuade other parties into the correctness of their perspective.”
He also said they regularly engage one another as GNU partners but also engage beyond GNU parties represented in Parliament.
“There may be instances when a GNU party raises matters that get the support of the opposition. The engagement has to be dynamic and transcend the boundaries of GNU,” he explained.
“There will be instances where there is a matter that must be settled between DA and PA and which does not require all of us,” he added.
Ntuli also said they have identified and will implement priority programmes emanating from the ANC national conference resolutions and manifesto.
“We will be fast tracking key legislation including the SABC bill, and reviewing the mandate of the Reserve Bank as part of transforming the financial sector and the South African economy.”
He said they welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's signing of the Basic Education Amendment Laws Bill and supported the consultation on the two clauses.
Cape Times