ANC to update the nation on the possible expansion of the GNU

African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the ANC will update the nation on the possible expansion of the GNU. This follows its earlier statement that it wants to engage with parties outside of the GNU with the possibility of expanding the ten-party pact.

The current political arrangement governing the country has seen its fair share of difficulties, most notably not being able to reach a consensus on the 2025 Budget – with the ANC having to reach out to parties on the opposition benches to see it see it through the Budget in parliament.

“GNU is GNU; it’s always on our agenda. So, I said to you that we will engage about the GNU in the two, three weeks, resetting the button, work with all political parties in the GNU and going forward to ensure that the GNU becomes stronger, but most importantly, ANC must be stronger,” says Mbalula.

With the possibility of an expansion on the horizon, some current GNU members have voiced concern. The DA, in particular, has warned that expansion could complicate governance.

“This has to be done in consultation with the parties that are currently in the GNU, and such a decision will be based on the sufficient consensus clause with that particular statement of content. I don’t believe that expanding the GNU is going to assist the GNU in going forward. I think it’s going to complicate things even further,” says John Steenhuisen, DA leader.

Although united in their effort to pass the third Budget proposal earlier this year, some parties on the outside have reacted to the possibility of an expansion.

ActionSA says while they are willing to support government policies that aid the public, they will continue to serve as a constrictive opposition.

“Well, I think we made it clear on two occasions to the ANC. Immediately after the elections, actually they sent someone senior at my house to come and talk to me. And I made it really very clear that, ‘look, you’ve got 70% of parliament. What do you want us for? To neutralize us? So, please leave us out’. The DA is no longer out there as an opposition. We want to really be a constructive opposition,” says Herman Mashaba, ActionSA leader.

Similarly, BOSA has made clear it will only consider joining discussions under specific conditions.

Although mum on the issue, the ANC is expected to give an update on the engagements in the coming weeks.