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A delegate stands near a banner during the 55th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa December 18, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
The African National Congress (ANC) NEC will deliberate on the state of the Government of National Unity in the coming weeks. Relations between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have soured over the budget impasse and also the firing of a DA deputy minister.
The DA has refused to pass the budgets of departments run by alleged corrupt ANC ministers like Thembi Simelane and Dr Nobuhle Nkabane.
The ANC has postponed the National Executive Meeting to have the National Working Committee thoroughly review the state of the GNU, alliance relations with SACP and the state of the economy.
Some ANC NEC members are pushing for the highest decision-making body between conferences, to take a decision on the removal of the DA.
This as some NEC members view the DA as being disruptive and acting in opposition to the government, by voting against the budget, withdrawing from the national dialogue and contradicting the President on the country’s foreign policy.
“That the National Executive Committee of the ANC, the National Working Committee yesterday, resolved that it should be postponed to a later stage to do thorough political work on a whole range of issues. The state of the Government of National Unity, to do political work on our situation within the Alliance, of mending relations and dealing with matters of reconfiguration that affect our relations with one of our alliance partners which have taken a decision to go to the next election on its own. That requires deep reflection and decision by the National Executive Committee,” says ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has in the recent past called on the party’s caucus not to disrupt the DA, as it’s making a grave mistake. In a recent interview, he said the DA must decide whether it wants to leave the GNU or not.
“Any party that doesn’t act accordance of the statement of intent will need to decide on its own on their continued participation in the GNU but there are other parties that have an interest to join,” said Ramaphosa.
When the ANC NEC convenes in the next few weeks, it will deliberate extensively on the posture of the DA, with some advocating for the harshest punitive measures, while the DA is also considering a motion of no confidence against the President in the foreseeable future.
