African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has stated that the party has not yet made a decision regarding the future of the Government of National Unity (GNU). His comments follow the Democratic Alliance's (DA) refusal to support the fiscal policy framework last week, a move that has sparked debate about the role of the DA in the current coalition government.
The ANC, which relies heavily on the DA as its largest GNU partner, has seen several officials call for the DA’s exit from the unity government. Critics argue that the DA cannot function as both an opposition party and a governing partner, especially when it refuses to support the national budget.
However, the DA has made it clear that it remains committed to the GNU and is open to resolving the ongoing budget impasse.
Speaking at a media briefing after the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Johannesburg, Mbalula explained that the ANC intends to continue engaging with its political partners in the GNU. "We have agreed to reset the button by ensuring that this GNU is governed by clear rules," he said. "It’s not enough to have just a statement of intent. We need to establish the rules that will govern our cooperation moving forward."
Mbalula also acknowledged that the ANC does not hold an absolute majority and must work with other parties to effectively govern the country.