DA demands equal footing in GNU, rejects ANC’s one-sided leadership

Steenhuisen

Cape Town — Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has declared that the party would not stand by as mere spectators in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Steenhuisen addressed the outcomes of the recent federal council meeting and expressed concern over the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to consult the DA before signing certain bills into law.

“We need to make sure the DA, as the second-largest party in the GNU, is allowed to express itself, allowed to put on the table alternatives and to work together to find consensus-making decisions within the GNU. If that is not possible, it makes future involvement in the GNU incredibly difficult to justify to our voters and the 3.5 million people who entrusted us with their votes in the last election,” he said.He added:  “We want to see South Africa succeed. We are committed to a country that is more inclusive, that has greater opportunities for job creation and every South African can live a life of opportunity and find a government that is on their side to realise that opportunity.”

Steenhuisen said that the DA is committed to ensuring the success of the coalition government in two key areas: boosting economic growth and creating jobs.

He also revealed that he had written to Ramaphosa regarding a dispute over Clause 19, saying that a clear procedure must be followed when differences arise within the Government of National Unity (GNU)

“At least three other parties in the GNU released statements in the past 72 hours indicating their unhappiness with the lack of consultation within the GNU,” he said.

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In his letter, Steenhuisen proposed arranging a meeting with President Ramaphosa to initiate efforts aimed at improving the relationship between the DA and the ANC, marking the first step toward restoring trust among all partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

“We remain committed to the GNU. We see it as a clear vehicle for economic growth and job creation,” he said.

He also stated that while the DA fully supports universal healthcare for all, it does not endorse the current version of the National Health Insurance (NHI). The party believes the NHI, as it stands, would fail to adequately support the public healthcare sector and could ultimately devastate the private healthcare sector.

“If there is an insistence without any further consultation, the NHI in its current form will not be tolerated,” he said.

He said that the party would continue collaborating with the GNU partners, including the ANC, in hopes of reaching a consensus on the way forward. However, he emphasised that the DA would set its own benchmark in these discussions.

“No one must be under any doubt that we will not be taken for granted, we will not be reduced to being spectators and the day that we cannot have an influence on growing the economy and creating jobs will be the day that our future involvement in the GNU will have to be questioned,” he concluded.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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