South Africa’s Government of National Unity under threat

A large number of ANC members of parliament want the DA kicked out of the Government of National Unity (GNU) due to the 2025 Budget debacle.

The Sunday Times reported that around two-thirds of ANC MPs want the DA to be kicked out and have confronted ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula about the issue.

“Several MPs, citing the DA’s opposition to the first two versions of the budget, questioned why the ANC was sticking with the GNU as it is now constituted,” it said.

They also cited the DA’s court challenge of the Employment Equity Amendment Act as another reason to boot the party from the GNU.

Problems within South Africa’s government of national unity have been brewing for some time, following numerous controversial bills and decisions.

The DA criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC for failing to adhere to procedures set out in a coalition deal agreed last year.

The DA went into alliance with the ANC and eight smaller rivals after elections in May 2024 failed to produce an outright winner and took six seats in the cabinet.

While the new administration agreed to safeguard the constitution and prioritise growing the economy and creating jobs, its members have sparred over several policies.

The most controversial are the Expropriation Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment 2022 (BELA) Bill, and the NHI.

Another sticky issue is the most recent Employment Equity Amendment Act, which includes race-based quotas.

The DA has launched a constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, which introduces rigid national race quotas in the workplace.

“These quotas will destroy jobs, undermine the economy, and violate the constitutional rights of all South Africans,” the DA said.

According to the DA, the ANC pushed these bills through without consulting other members of the government of national unity.

It added that the ANC continues to rule as if it achieved a majority in the 2024 national elections, not recognising that it had lost power.

Helen Zille’s comments on the DA and GNU

The Chair of the DA Federal Council, Helen Zille, told Biznews that South Africa’s current government of national unity is an unusual coalition.

She said the parties can take each other head-on within the Government of National Unity and survive. “That’s a very interesting feature of South Africa,” he said.

However, that does not mean that there will not be issues that make it impossible for the DA to stay in government.

“However, all our polling tells us that the GNU is enormously popular and very much supported across the board,” she said.

“For as long as that remains the case, we will continue fighting, standing up for our voters, and remaining in the GNU.”

This will remain the default until it becomes impossible for the Democratic Alliance to stand up for its voters within the GNU.

“We will stand up for our voters, but can only do that because we have enough support to hold the balance of power. That means we can bring the government down if we withdraw,” it said.

She said the smaller parties are all there by the grace and favour of the ANC. “Cyril could fire them tomorrow, and it would make no difference,” she said.

“That explains why they are so quick to please the ANC. We don’t have to. We are there because of the voters, not by the grace and favour of a presidential appointment.”

Another thing that can end the government of national unity is if Paul Mashatile replaces Cyril Ramaphosa.

“I can tell you that Paul Mashatile, if he succeeds Cyril, will not want the DA in the GNU. His first order of business will be to get rid of us,” Zille said.

“So, it is highly likely that if Cyril Ramaphosa were to be removed, and if Paul Mashatile were to succeed him, the Government of National Unity as we know it, would end.”