Gnu Clearing House Not Reviewing Bills Passed By Parliament: Mashatile

The government of national unitys GNU Clearing House mechanism will not be reviewing or seeking compromises on any bills passed by Parliament , Deputy President Paul Mashatile says.

The Clearing House is the GNUs main conflict resolution structure. Mashatile serves as its chairman.

In recent months, GNU member parties have differed sharply over various pieces of legislation, such as the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, National Health Insurance NHI and Expropriation Act.

In a recent written question , Economic Freedom Fighters member of Parliament Sinawo Thambo asked Mashatile if the Clearing House also reviews and/or reaches compromises on legislation which has been passed by Parliament.

The Clearing House is a mechanism through which parties within the GNU pursue political coordination to build consensus on contentious policy matters, Mashatile wrote in response.

The GNU Clearing House Mechanism is thus a working committee of, and reports on all its work to the Political Leaders Forum that is chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The scope of the work of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism does not involve the reviews, or compromises on, legislation that has been passed by Parliament.

In January, the Democratic Alliance DA announced that it was declaring a formal GNU dispute over the NHI and Expropriation Bills signing. It was also invoking Section 19 and 20 of the GNU Statement of Intent .

Section 19 sets 60 as the threshold for sufficient consensus while Section 20 provides for the establishment of dispute resolution mechanism. The Clearing House mechanism was established on this basis.

However, Mashatile has now seemingly shut the door to GNU talks on NHI and Expropriation Act - at least within the Clearing House Mechanism. However, the mechanism discussed the BELA Act in October last year.