GNU partners cannot seek support from other parties: Mulder

Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader Dr. Corné Mulder says the Government of National Unity (GNU) would be a success if its members did not seek support beyond the coalition to resolve internal differences.

The African National Congress (ANC) approached some parties outside the GNU to support the proposed 0.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) hike.

This comes after some partners opposed the fiscal policy framework.

Mulder says they raised this issue with the ANC in their meeting yesterday.

He says, “The important thing is that all the parties that are members of the Government of National Unity should recommit themselves in terms of focusing and making the Government of National Unity a success. That means that your first impression should be amongst us.”

Mulder adds, “You can’t just go outside the Government of National Unity and try to get support from other parties outside the GNU, and I think there was a commitment by the parties ourselves, by ourselves and the ANC to understand that we need to focus on the GNU and to make this work.”-Reporting by Kholo Tefo.

PODCAST|  Interview with Mulder on SA fm’s First Take Programme regarding GNU meeting:

Meanwhile, the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) also held talks in Johannesburg over the weekend in an effort to resolve a growing dispute over the national budget.  The DA has rejected the proposal, calling it unaffordable without broader economic reforms.

Political writer, analyst and author, Dr. Ebrahim Harvey weighs in: