The ANC will embark on what is expected to be tough and robust negotiations to reconfigure the government of national unity, having resolved on its expansion during its National Executive Committee meeting this past weekend.
In his closing address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the NEC had resolved to include other parties in the GNU.
The decision by the NEC came as no surprise as various members of the ANC’s leadership, including those within its top brass, had been calling for a reconfigured GNU.
The decision comes as the ANC has been at loggerheads with its biggest partners in government, with the recent disagreements provoked by Ramaphosa’s decision to fire DA deputy minister of trade & industry Andrew Whitfield. In protest, the DA denounced the national dialogue and threatened to reject budgets of ANC ministers accused of wrongdoing.
This was considered a tipping point between the two partners who have been wrestling with each other over their perceived dominance within the GNU.
Ramaphosa said that managing parliamentary committees has not been an easy process for the ANC, and its caucus is developing new ways of building relations with parties with whom they don’t always agree.
“The budget process has taught us many lessons, including being able to build tactical and issue-based voting alliances with other parties. We welcome the cooperation on the budget, including with parties that are not part of the GNU.
“This cooperation is a real demonstration of acting in the interests of the people of South Africa. The overall picture is that, despite all the noise, through the GNU we have been able to safeguard the core progressive policy agenda of the National Democratic Revolution, which is the core pillar of ANC policies,” he said.
TimesLIVE Premium previously reported that leaders within the ANC were calling for the inclusion of parties that had helped it to help pass the budget during its second attempt. These parties included the National Coloured Congress (NCC), ActionSA and Bosa.
While the ANC has resolved to include these parties within the GNU, the DA is likely to push back against this decision. The DA had previously taken issue with the ANC when it approached the Herman Mashaba-led ActionSA and Mmusi Maimane’s Bosa during the budget negotiations.
At the time, the DA federal council chair, arguably the most powerful leader in the organisation, accused the ANC of flouting the statement of intent, the GNU’s founding document and de facto constitution.
On Monday evening, Ramaphosa said the NEC had discussed extensively how to proceed with respect to the GNU given their practical experience of the past 12 months.
While we would not want to speculate on engagements that have not happened, should such an engagement transpire, ActionSA's considerations will be based on whether our involvement will bring about the much-needed reforms in our country
— Michael Beaumont, ActionSA chair
“Accordingly, the NEC considered a number of options about how to strengthen the GNU and improve its effectiveness and stability to give full and proper effect to the Statement of Intent that was signed by the GNU parties and the three strategic priorities of the 7th administration.
“As part of this, we have agreed to engage with parties that are willing to play a constructive role in furthering national unity and stability so we can achieve our three strategic priorities, namely: driving inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable developmental state.
“In line with the Statement of Intent, we will first begin our engagements with parties currently in the GNU with a view to seeing the extent to which we can expand and advance the GNU with other parties that see themselves supporting the objectives that we set out in the SOI.”
Ramaphosa and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula have resisted calls within the ANC to remove the DA after several impasses.
The two leaders who are followed by a small minority within the ANC, have argued to keep the DA within the GNU, fearing a possible motion of no confidence. Without the DA’s 21% the ANC would be vulnerable to attacks in parliament should it choose to form a government with minority parties.
However, those who have been against the DA have argued that its inclusion in the GNU has become untenable. The majority, who are accompanied by the likes of ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, finance minister Enoch Godongwana and chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli, have argued that the ANC would survive any attacks in parliament provided that the party negotiates with parties such as the EFF on an issue-by-issue basis.
Ramaphosa’s own words have helped seal the NEC’s position and attitude over the DA. TimesLIVE Premium was the first to release audio captured during a caucus meeting at the height of the budget impasse, where Ramaphosa identified the DA as having defined itself outside its GNU.
The NEC was presented with five options to reset and redefine the GNU. These options had been canvassed by the GNU task team led by Mbalula during a national working committee meeting two weeks ago:
- removing the DA from the GNU and inviting ActionSA, Bosa and the NCC to join it;
- retaining the DA, but including the three small parties that worked with the ANC during its attempt to pass the budget;
- entering into a supply and confidence agreement with the EFF;
- forming a minority government; or
- collapsing the government and holding fresh elections.
NEC insiders who spoke to TimesLIVE Premium after the meeting on Monday said the decision to expand the GNU would force the DA to leave on its own. They said this would make conditions for the DA to stay unbearable should the three parties wish to take executive roles in key departments.
Reacting to the announcement by Ramaphosa, ActionSA chairperson Michael Beaumont said the party has not seen the GNU to be a vehicle capable of delivering change in its present form.
“While we would not want to speculate on engagements that have not happened, should such an engagement transpire, ActionSA's considerations will be based on whether our involvement will bring about the much-needed reforms in our country.”
Through access to state power in the GNU, we have been able to defend the democratic gains and advance our transformation agenda despite the pressure and resistance from global and domestic right-wing forces. We have not retreated from the progressive domestic and foreign policy positions of our movement
— President Cyril Ramaphosa
NCC leader Fadiel Adams said they had been clear that they would join a GNU without the DA a year ago. Adams accused the DA of regressive policies, arguing that the DA would not advance the needs of its constituents.
“We will have a look at what he has said, and if an invitation to join the GNU and contribute to the upliftment of all of our people is made, we will surely discuss it. The GNU in its current form is a dead horse, and I think perhaps an injection of new blood is needed,” he said.
Adams, however, said his party had matured since taking a position in parliament. He added that while they disagree on most things with the DA, “a year later, perhaps we are a little more mature and we understand that the DA is not the GNU. I'm sure most progressive parties think the same way that the DA is not the GNU”.
Maimane said the nature of any conversation with the ANC will be predicated on the nature of reforms the GNU commits to achieving.
“The mistake that we don't want to make is to end up on the bus but not clear where the bus is trying to get us to, and the net consequence of that is that you can be a passenger on the bus, but you are not committed to the destination,” Maimane said, arguing that Bosa’s objective is the reform of the economy.
“Were we to get into a ministry, it needs to have economic dividends for the people of South Africa.”
Ramaphosa said the NEC’s view is that the tactic of the GNU has enabled the ANC to continue to execute its agenda for nation-building and fundamental socioeconomic transformation of South Africa, albeit under conditions imposed by its strategic electoral setback suffered in 2024.
He said both the strategic policy priorities and the budget pointed to the direction they should support.
“In our assessment, we have concluded that the decision to establish the GNU was correct. Our people appreciate that it has brought stability and enabled progress in addressing their challenges. The NEC reaffirms the view that the GNU is a correct tactic and remains valid,” he said.
“Through access to state power in the GNU, we have been able to defend the democratic gains and advance our transformation agenda despite the pressure and resistance from global and domestic right-wing forces. We have not retreated from the progressive domestic and foreign policy positions of our movement.”
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