By Simon Nare
President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged those who are opposed to the Government of National Unity to present the ANC with alternative of who they should govern with given that there was not majority winner in the May elections.
Addressing ANC supporters outside the party’s headquarters at Luthuli House in downtown Johannesburg on Monday evening to reflect on the 100 days of the GNU, Ramaphosa defended the multi-party coalition, saying there was commitment by the 10 parties to work together for the good of the country.
The president said the GNU has for the first time in years attracted international and domestic investors who were coming forward to invest but did not specify who.
He added that 100 days did not seem like a long time, but it was a significant milestone to gauge whether the 7th administration was moving in the right direction or doing things differently and with more purpose.
“Our reflection and the reflection that we are making at this point in time is that although our challenges are huge, there is collective commitment to working together to tackle these challenges.
“Those who say we should not be working together with the others, need to come forward with alternatives. Alternatives that they believe can work and thus far we have not heard of any better option or alternatives. And that is why we will continue to work with the nine political parties as the ANC in the GNU,” he said.
The president further argued that the GNU has brought about political stability in the country and was presenting real economic growth opportunities, with investors starting to look at the country once again with greater interest.
He said it was important to work on improving the economy and the lives of South Africans, and this commitment was shared by a lot of people in the country.
Ramaphosa said the idea of a national dialogue has been widely accepted and this forum was going to be crucial where people from various formations like political parties, religious groups, traditional and cultural organisations as well as sporting organisations would get to participate.
Ramaphosa’s challenge for an alternative could be interpreted as a swipe specifically aimed at SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila, who has publicly lambasted the ANC for going into a coalition specifically with the DA who he said represented right-wing interests.
In a press conference on Sunday, the SACP’s Central Committee described the coalition as a collaboration by a group of ANC elite club members with the DA to undermine the tripartite alliance.
The SACP also boycotted the ANC ceremony to reflect on the 100 days of GNU.
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