President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government of national unity (GNU) is “working out very well” and that he “would make it work” to “find solutions” to the challenges SA faces.
Ramaphosa held a high-level meeting with party political leaders on Wednesday, which served as an opportunity to address brewing disputes among partners.
It came amid public disagreement among GNU partners over allegations of corruption against ministers in the national executive, an ideological debate over universal health coverage and threats from the DA to walk away if Ramaphosa signs an education reform bill into law.
Business Day spoke to party leaders, who agreed the meeting with Ramaphosa “was a constructive engagement”, and that it had been “broadly agreed” there was a need to “meet regularly” and proceed with “an approach of more consultation” with the aim of finding “sufficient consensus” on policy disputes.
It is also understood that some party leaders “requested a review” of the cabinet’s processes ahead of the announcement of GNU decisions by Ramaphosa.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa said in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) the GNU’s teething problems were being ironed out.
“There are different political perspectives, but we have decided on a common programme. We are trying to work together in a government of national unity. We engage with each other with respect, recognition and an agreed upon agenda, and with an acceptance of the role each party plays,” Ramaphosa said.
Anyone who said differently was “whispering in the wind”, he said.
The ANC-led governing coalition has been broadly well received in the business community, which has expressed optimism about its potential to bring stability and forge a stable government. Still, some commentators have warned of concerns about the GNU’s ability to manage internal complexities, maintain cohesion and deliver on its promises.
One of the most pressing issues is the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen governance in the education sector. It has sparked controversy, particularly about mother tongue education and the powers of school governing bodies.
DA leader and minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen said he had “moved urgently” to meet Ramaphosa “to reiterate our objections in the strongest terms”.
Steenhuisen said he would also submit to Ramaphosa the “simple amendments” the DA required and urge him to send the bill back to parliament.
The DA’s strong stance on the bill is one of the biggest challenges to the GNU, testing its cohesion and Ramaphosa’s leadership. The potential withdrawal of the DA, which is joined by the Freedom Front Plus and ACDP in opposing the bill, would destabilise the coalition and weigh heavily on business and investor confidence.
The bill’s most contentious aspect is a proposal to strip school governing bodies of their power to determine admission and language policies and give provincial heads of education the final say. It also proposes extending compulsory schooling by a year to include grade R.
Another contentious issue is the report by Justice & constitutional development minister Thembi Simelane on the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
The GNU was formed after the ANC lost its electoral majority in May. This was largely blamed on the electorate’s voting for former president Jacob Zuma’s MK party, as the electorate had grown disillusioned with the ANC’s underwhelming stewardship of the government.
Ramaphosa said in the NCOP he had received documents from Simelane and was applying his mind.
GNU members have already clashed over National Health Insurance (NHI). Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi doubled down on the scheme in July, saying he was determined to push it through despite legal challenges and opposition from parties.
“The bill has been signed but I am open to talking about how this act is going to be implemented, which is exactly what I am going to be doing in the next few weeks. Having signed the act does not mean we are exempt from hearing all those that have issues, all I ask is that we be concerned with how we improve the health system,” Ramaphosa said on NHI in comments to the NCOP.
Update: September 12 2024
This story has been updated with new information throughout.
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