More than a week after the ANC national executive committee (NEC) resolved to include more parties in the government of national unity (GNU), it has not yet informed its existing coalition partners, DA leader John Steenhuisen told Business Day on Monday.
“We, as the second biggest partner in the GNU, have had no correspondence to that effect from the president, ANC secretary-general or Luthuli House. Also, I don't believe it is going to assist to include more members in the GNU. The statement of intent we signed when we joined the GNU said there had to be consultations and sufficient consensus, to include more political parties in the GNU,” Steenhuisen said.
“Improving relations within the existing parties to the GNU should be the way forward. We do not even meet once a month and the president has been promising us a bosberaad since January; nor do we have regular official engagements or consultations or a dispute resolution mechanism over a year in, and that is why conflict gets blown out of proportion,” he said.
Last week, the ANC NEC reiterated its commitment to GNU but expressed unhappiness with the DA calling for a “reset” of the coalition.
Briefing the media on the outcome of the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) last week, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula went a step further, saying the party would hit the “reset button” and start engaging with parties inside and outside the GNU.
Mbalula said negotiations would take place over the next five days and that the “reset” did not entail booting the DA from the GNU or pushing for any specific changes, but that the DA may have to take a different position and may decide to exit the coalition, depending on who the ANC wanted to include.
When asked for comment, ActionSA, which played a key role in helping the ANC pass the national budget when the DA was standing firm in its push for a review of government spending and scrapping BEE, said there would be no harm in just talking, at this stage.
“ActionSA has been open to engagements regarding the GNU since we declined the invitation to join it in June 2024. ActionSA has not seen the GNU to be a vehicle capable of delivering change in its present form. While we would not want to speculate on engagements that have not happened, should such an engagement transpire, ActionSA’s considerations will be based on whether our involvement will bring about the much needed reforms in our country,” ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said.
Bosa added that so far it had little confidence in those leading the GNU.
“The GNU must have a plan for economic growth and reform. This moves beyond the statement of intent. It’s about priority being people rather than politics. If we work out an agreeable plan for growth, we can be part; it simply can’t be a continuation of the ANC economic plan, which is the current reality,” Bosa leader Mmusi Maimane said.
Rise Mzanzi said the ANC had not yet undertaken any serious talks about the inclusion of some other parties, so there was not much it could add.
“Obviously if there’s a new discussion about reconfiguring the GNU, we would consider its implications then, but for now there isn’t,” Rise Mzanzi leader Songezo Zibi said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.