The African National Congress (ANC) has stated that the Government of National Unity (GNU) was never dependent on the participation of the Democratic Alliance (DA).
This follows the DA – a member of the GNU – voting against the approval of the budget tabled by the Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, on Wednesday.
ANC Chief Whip in Parliament Mdumiseni Ntuli says it is sure that the national leadership of the party will reflect on the decision by the DA to vote against the passing of the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposal.
“The Government of National Unity has never, from the origins up to now, depended on the present and the participation of the Democratic Alliance. The DA is a member or was a member. I don’t know what is going to happen from now on, but the GNU will remain. What will then happen in light of the decision of what happened today (Wednesday). ”
He says, “As I said, it’s commitment that was made by other political parties like the ActionSA, which is not part of the GNU. The ANC is going to reflect on this. Politically, what is the meaning of this?”
Some of the political parties that have voted in favour of the report include the ANC, ActionSA, the IFP and the GOOD Party.
ANC Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the party is confident that the GNU will remain stable despite disputes between the ANC and the DA.
The National Assembly adopted the 2025 Fiscal Framework by a slight majority on Wednesday. The report includes recommendations that Treasury must be given 30 days to come up with alternative revenue streams to replace a planned hike in VAT, as well as an adjustment in personal income tax brackets.
‘GNU has collapsed’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema says yesterday’s events in the National Assembly are a clear indication that the GNU has collapsed.
Malema says, “We wanted to demonstrate what we have said since the constitution of the GNU that there’s nothing called the GNU. You have all seen it collapsing in front of the whole society today.”
He says, “We said this will last for a year, today everybody saw what we have been speaking about. So we are happy that we were able to demonstrate in action that there is nothing common about the so-called Government of National Unity.”
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