Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive (FEDEX) is reportedly set to meet later today (Wednesday) to decide on its future in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
According to SABC News, this follows the DA’s dissatisfaction with the adoption of the Fiscal Framework report by the Standing Committee on Finance, which was backed by the ANC, IFP, and ActionSA on Tuesday night.
The report, which includes recommendations to halt the VAT hike, has been criticised by the DA, which accuses these parties of “selling out” and labelling the decision irresponsible.
The report is being presented in the National Assembly this afternoon.
Earlier, reports indicated that President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned the ANC that the DA has put itself in a difficult position regarding the Government of National Unity (GNU).
According to EWN, speaking to ANC caucus members on Tuesday night, Ramaphosa revealed that he told DA leader John Steenhuisen his party had “hit a wall” and needed to decide its next steps.
Critical test
The ANC and DA are deadlocked over the budget policy statement ahead of Parliament’s vote on the 2025 budget.
Some ANC members have suggested the DA should leave the GNU if it cannot support the budget.
Ramaphosa criticised the DA for trying to act as both a governing party and an opposition force simultaneously.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile echoed this sentiment, saying that if the DA rejected the budget, it would effectively be removing itself from the GNU.
The budget vote, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, is seen as a critical test for the unity government.
Meawhile, the ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has warned during a media briefing on Tuesday that the collapse of budget negotiations could lead to a reconfiguration of the Government of National Unity (GNU), accusing some parties of using the process for political gain.
Mbalula reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the GNU but stressed that internal squabbles could force a review of its structure.
“If you engage with these processes based on political scoring, it may lead to situations in which the GNU itself, at the ultimate, given the outcome, has to be reconfigured.
[WATCH] ANC Secretary-General, Cde Fikile Mbalula, responds to questions regarding the DA’s preconditions for supporting the Budget.
“If you engage with this process on the basis of political scoring, it may lead to situations where in which GNU itself, at the ultimate, (given… pic.twitter.com/Z2x7BLvBMe
— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) April 1, 2025
“The ANC is committed to the GNU with all its partners, but the maturity of these partners is very important for the GNU,” he said.
He added: “The ANC is not wielding an axe to cut people in the GNU. They will cut themselves out and we will procceed… Bu at the end of the day, we are committed to the country and we are very much confident that we will ccross and with a major breakthrough…
“But if people come with political agendas that they want to be seen to be doing things in a different manner, it will affect the GNU in the long term and that’s what we need to understand.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
