Cape Town – The ANC’s national working committee (NWC) has decided to revisit negotiations with all its Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, including those who helped pass the national budget, reports said on Tuesday.
This follows rising tensions between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and other GNU parties after the DA refused to back Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s fiscal framework.
A Cabinet reshuffle may be imminent, as the ANC seeks to honour its agreements with ActionSA while maintaining relations with the DA, EWN reported, citing sources in the closed meeting, which took place on Monday
The party has revived its coalition team — excluding President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile — to redefine engagement rules for all GNU partners, the report said.
The team has already reached out to the DA for talks, while the DA’s federal executive met separately, adopting a cautious wait-and-see stance despite internal calls to exit the coalition.
Earlier, Mashatile said that the DA must support the budget to remain in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Speaking at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Legacy Business Breakfast on Monday, he emphasised that while the DA had expressed interest in staying in the GNU, their recent vote against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget framework raised concerns, SABC News reported.
With key financial bills, including the Appropriation Bill, still pending, Mashatile stressed that the government would work with those committed to the process.
“They must vote for the budget, they must come to support it. Remember we are not done, we were just voting for the fiscal framework. The Appropriation Bill is coming. There are a lot of money Bills that are lined up. Coming. So now that they have not voted for the fiscal framework, it set the tone of what they will do with the Appropriation Bill, Division of Revenue Bill. Those things are still coming. We will work with those who go all the way with us. We need the budget to get South Africa working,” he said.
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