Cape Town – South African business leaders have reportedly urged President Cyril Ramaphosa and Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen to resolve their differences and maintain the ruling coalition.
The business leaders warned, in a letter, that the government’s collapse, amid a dispute over the national budget, could lead to job losses and economic setbacks, Daily Investor reported.
The letter, signed by prominent business figures like Discovery CEO Adrian Gore and Anglo American leader Duncan Wanblad, emphasised the importance of stability and called for continued collaboration and compromise.
“We have a great deal to lose. A collapse of the Government of National Unity could reverse the gains we have achieved,” the leaders wrote, according to the report.
“We therefore write to you with a simple plea: Stay the course. stay in the room. Hold the line. Keep building. Compromise.”
The letter, he said, highlighted the negative impact this exclusion could have on the country’s economy.
[WATCH] Steenhuisen says the party has received a letter from business, which is concerned about potential exclusion of the DA from government, which he says wiped off over R1 trillion from the JSE.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/CkKGvFScPN
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 5, 2025
The DA leader reassured stakeholders that the party remains focused on its role in the government, emphasising the need for stability and continued collaboration within the GNU.
This comes after the ANC passed the 2025 National Budget without the DA support, leading to the DA filing court papers challenging its passage.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula earlier accused the DA of using the 0.5% VAT increase for political point-scoring.
He claimed the DA had initially agreed to back the increase if the Exportation Act was scrapped, calling their stance disingenuous, EWN reported.
“The arrogance of the DA needs to be tamed. They are arrogant. They’ve got no respect. All that’s important to them is that they must win. You can’t find a solution by grandstanding, and that’s what the DA has done thus far,” the report quoted Mbalula as saying.
Meanwhile, the ANC has not ruled out ActionSA joining the Government of National Unity (GNU) amid tensions with the DA.
Mbalula confirmed discussions with ActionSA, praising their willingness to prioritise the country over political positions.
