ANC’s grip on power ‘stalls change, US ties stay same’

ANC

Cape Town – South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) is facing mounting tensions as opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), express dissatisfaction with the African National Congress (ANC)’s approach to governance.

These parties say they are committed to the coalition, but their frustrations highlight deepening rifts over budgetary decisions, policy influence, and the ANC’s dominant role in the government.

DA leader John Steenhuisen has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to the GNU, but with clear demands for a more equitable distribution of power.

In a recent press briefing in KwaZulu-Natal, Steenhuisen emphasised that while the DA acknowledges it does not have a 51% majority, neither does any other party within the GNU.

He stressed that all parties should have a genuine say in key areas such as economic and foreign policy, insisting that the coalition cannot succeed if the DA and other partners are excluded from crucial decision-making processes.

“It is not sustainable to be a part of a government that cuts you out of key decision making areas – whether that is economic policy or foreign policy. The government of national unity is not a continuation of the 6th administration, it is a new government that reflect the will of the people,” Steenhuisen said, calling for a shift in how power is shared within the coalition.

His comments came after the DA voted against the controversial VAT increase in the 2025 national budget, a move that highlighted the DA’s growing frustration with the ANC’s dominance in the coalition.

According to BusinessTech, Conservative commentator Joel Pollak has been equally critical of the GNU, arguing that the ANC retains control over the most vital areas of governance, particularly foreign relations and economic policy.

Despite the inclusion of other parties, Pollak asserts that the ANC’s strategic control of key ministries, such as International Relations and Cooperation, as well as Energy and Mineral Resources, has effectively stifled any meaningful influence from smaller coalition partners.

This dominance, he argues, renders the GNU little more than an extension of the ANC’s policies, particularly in matters of international relations and economic decisions that affect South Africa’s global standing.

“The ANC occupies the most important ministries in terms of relations with other countries. So the ANC kept for itself the foreign ministry. It kept the minerals and energy [and] the major industries,” said Pollak.

“Really, to those of us who were watching from the outside, it was a great mystery that the DA, which had done so well in the election, didn’t do better for itself in the negotiation.”

Pollak’s observations were underscored by the ANC’s passing of the 2025 budget without the DA’s support, including a 0.5% VAT increase.

This move further reinforced the perception that the ANC continues to control policy-making within the GNU, despite the party’s reduced electoral share in the 2024 elections.

The FF Plus, the fourth-largest party in the GNU, has also expressed its dissatisfaction with the ANC’s approach, particularly regarding the proposed VAT increase.

Party leader Corné Mulder made it clear that the FF Plus did not join the GNU to simply endorse the ANC’s policies, which he argues have failed South Africa over the past 30 years. Mulder’s criticism of the ANC’s handling of the national budget, including its lack of engagement with coalition partners, raises further concerns about the viability of the GNU.

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“That puts a huge question mark over the successful function of a Government of National Unity or a coalition,” EWN quoted him as saying.

He called for a revised coalition agreement addressing budget concerns and expenditure cuts to avoid tax increases.

Mulder emphasised that the ANC’s failure to engage with other parties on the budget undermines the very essence of a coalition government and threatens its long-term stability.

Despite his strong criticisms, he remains cautiously optimistic about the GNU’s potential to succeed. He acknowledged the scepticism among his party’s supporters but stressed that they would not make rash decisions.

“We will have to evaluate and see if we can use this vehicle to the benefit of all,” Mulder added. However, he made it clear that the ANC must be willing to listen and make compromises if the GNU is to function effectively.

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The ANC’s control over the key decision-making processes has not only alienated its coalition partners but also strained South Africa’s international relations. The country’s stance on issues like its close relationship with Iran, its position on Israel at the International Court of Justice, and its ties with Russia and China have raised concerns in Western capitals, particularly in the United States.

Pollak has pointed out that the ANC’s foreign policy, which it controls through the Ministry of International Relations, continues to be a point of contention with global powers. This, along with the ANC’s handling of domestic issues, has resulted in the US reviewing its aid and policy towards South Africa, further highlighting the coalition’s struggle to present a unified front on the international stage.

While tensions persist, both Steenhuisen and Mulder agree that the GNU presents an opportunity for South Africa to move beyond the ANC’s failed policies. However, both parties stress the need for the ANC to engage in a more collaborative and transparent decision-making process.

The DA and FF Plus, along with other smaller coalition members, have called for greater inclusion in shaping the country’s policies.

For the GNU to succeed, the ANC must be prepared to make compromises, listen to the concerns of its partners, and move away from the autocratic style of governance that has defined its leadership over the past three decades.

As Mulder put it, “The ANC needs to work collaboratively with other political parties and embrace fair, transparent decision-making.”

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