Cape Town — African National Congress (ANC) president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has reiterated that the Government of National Unity (GNU) was the best decision for the country, despite disagreements with its alliance partners.
After the ANC failed to win an outright majority during the 2024 general elections, it sought partners and formed a GNU with ten other political parties, including long-time rivals, the Democratic Alliance (DA).
This decision, in particular, did not sit well with the ANC’s tripartite alliance partners, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).
According to SABC News, the SACP said the ANC had sold out by getting into bed with the DA, while Cosatu said it was strange that, when it called for the reconfiguration of the alliance, the ANC had accused it of wanting positions in government.
Ramaphosa, however, was quick to dismiss the claims and said the parties within the GNU were slowly starting to find each other, for the good of the country and the alliance.
He said the GNU parties must not undermine core principles and goals, but they should serve as a platform to defend and advance the working class. He said the entire alliance needed to discuss how to deal with political, strategic and tactical questions.
“We have noted the statement by the SACP on the occasion of its 103rd anniversary that the party takes a critical but non-oppositionist stance towards the GNU” – Ramaphosa as he closes ANC NEC Lekgotla#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/M14pa6Eim7
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 6, 2024
According to SowetanLIVE, the ANC held its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to deliberate on the reasons behind the decline in votes and how it can regain support within society.
Ramaohosa said it was unchartered territory for the ANC and it was a setback for the party. He acknowledged that the new South Africa implied that the ANC could no longer govern alone and the party decided it should involve all parties to lead South Africa forward.
Ramaphosa said the GNU was the “best tactical option” to improve the lives of South Africans.
“We did not arrive at the forming of a GNU easily. It is a decision we took fully aware of the risks and opportunities inherent in the option. We firmly believe this was the best way to form a government that is stable, effective and able to advance the interests of the South African people as a whole,” he said,
Ramaohosa said the ANC’s first key decision was to accept the outcome of elections and that South Africans were fed up with the political bickering and blame game by political parties and politicians, and instead people wanted to see their needs put first.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
