‘You can leave the GNU tonight if you wish’: Fikile Mbalula dares DA, Helen Zille

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has launched a spirited attack against the DA’s federal council chairperson Helen Zille, daring her party to leave the government of national unity (GNU) if it wants to. 

This comes after what Mbalula said had been consistent jabs by Zille against the ANC, the GNU and most recently President Cyril Ramaphosa when she claimed big business had begged the DA to save him from the EFF and MK Party. 

Mbalula said Zille’s consistent remarks against his party were attempts to position herself as influential within the GNU while undermining the ANC’s foundational role.

“We need to make it clear: if the DA wants to leave the GNU, they can leave tonight or tomorrow. Any time they want to leave, they can go,” said Mbalula. 

“The divisive narrative they are pushing lacks historical truth and relevance to our transformation efforts. Zille’s intent is clear, and that is to delegitimise the ANC’s leadership and derail the transformative projects central to our NDR [National Democratic Revolution].”

Mbalula said there was no truth to Zille’s remarks that big business had asked the DA to protect Ramaphosa. 

He said this insinuation would mean the ANC had long premeditated the GNU when it was born as a consequence of the May 29 election. 

“We view the claims as not only false but deliberately misleading, aiming to distort historical facts and elevate her importance in national matters where she lacks any foundational relevance,” said Mbalula. 

“Zille’s repeated urge to interfere in the internal affairs of the ANC and her ongoing public attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa expose a shameless bid for power and influence, one she has neither earned or will attain through such reckless posturing. We see through these calculated attempts to undermine the ANC’s leadership.”

It has become clear, Mbalula said, that Zille and the DA had made a decision it would weaken the ANC from within in hopes of increasing its support. 

“As the ANC, we don’t need any external figures to ‘prop up’ our president. Our internal unity and the resolve of our members is testament to the mandate we have been entrusted with by the South African electorate,” said Mbalula. 

“We stand as the legitimate representatives of our people, continuously renewing and strengthening our movement to uphold the will of the people.”

He also took a jab at the DA for claiming public-private partnerships (PPPs) was its idea. 

Mbalula said the ANC-led government had long been doing PPPs as far back as the Gautrain mega project. 

“The DA’s claims of 'introducing' public-private partnerships to South Africa are nothing short of ludicrous. The ANC-led government has long pioneered co-operative projects that have led to significant milestones, such as the successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the development of the Gautrain, all achieved through effective planning and co-ordination under ANC leadership,” he said.

“To suggest otherwise is a transparent attempt to hijack the legacy of ANC-led governance for her party’s political gain.”

He said Zille’s behaviour was a “vivid reminder of her own deep-seated racial biases and a divisive agenda that attempts to exploit identity politics rather than foster genuine unity”.

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