ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula reports back on the national working committee's engagement with partners in the GNU.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy Paul Mashatile were apparently divided on whether or not to keep the current Government of National Unity (GNU) which consists of the DA and the Freedom Front Plus.
An ANC member who also attended the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on Monday said the tensions within the organisation reached a boiling point when Ramaphosa and Mashatile apparently “clashed” over the party's stance on the DA in the GNU.
“Mashatile wants the ANC to move on and form a coalition with other parties that could form another GNU. This would mean a cabinet reshuffle which would have to be implemented by Ramaphosa who is against it,” the source said.
Mashatile has been vocal about his disapproval of the DA's actions, stating that their decision to oppose the budget was a clear indication that they were "defining themselves outside the GNU".
In contrast, Ramaphosa has taken a more diplomatic approach, opting to engage with the DA to keep them within the GNU.
The ANC went into Monday’s meeting, having narrowly managed to have the budget passed before the National Assembly last week. Thanks to ActionSA, the ANC garnered enough support when its partners the DA and FF+ dumped it over the proposed Value Added Tax hikes.
By voting against the budget, Mashatile had charged that the DA was no longer welcome in the GNU.
However, speaking at a press briefing at the ANC’s headquarters in Luthuli House on Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the NWC had decided to "reset" the coalition and engage with parties inside and outside the GNU to address the impasse over the 2025 budget.
Mbalula added that the party would negotiate with all stakeholders, including the DA, to find a way forward.
"We are deeply concerned by the actions of the DA, whose participation in the GNU has been marred by double-dealing…We have written to political parties, inside and outside the GNU, seeking an audience with them so that the engagements continue over the next five days,” Mbalula said.
He said the DA was using the GNU for political gain.
“The DA has been shifting goal posts…and if they walk (out of the GNU) they will be replaced. If they do not walk they will have to explain themselves why they are not walking. We are not beholden to the DA, we are beholden to the country. The DA can walk tonight if they want to…let them walk. We managed to pass the budget without the DA,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula evaded questions about the possible in-fighting amongst ANC members regarding the DA’s future in the GNU.
“The ANC is a big organisation and we have members that are highly opinionated and share some information with the media. They are your assets.
"I wont blame the media when that happens, it's us that we have to blame for going to the media and telling them about our internal affairs,” he said.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said not once has his party gone outside of the GNU to lobby support for its position, which is what the ANC did, defining itself outside the GNU.
“South Africa needs an era of co-governance, built on the implementation of bold, pro-growth reforms that create jobs and restores fiscal stability. That is why the DA signed the Statement of Intent and entered the GNU - we wanted shared governance that prioritises delivery and economic recovery over political convenience. The DA has been clear and consistent about our position on VAT inside government and outside government.”
The DA looked forward to discussing a reform agenda for growth and jobs with the ANC, he said.
Cape Times