By Akani Nkuna
African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned that the Government of National Unity is not cast in stone, and that the agreement can collapse at any moment if consensus is lacking.
“GNU is not a strategic goal; it is a tactical manoeuvre. And anything in it can happen and we are clear in the theory and our politics that this thing can end [but the ANC] will not,” he said.
Mbalula led a march in Tshwane on Friday, reaffirming his party’s commitment to tackling community issues, championing social justice and economic equality, and enhancing service delivery particularly to communities on the outskirts of the metro.
He said the ANC was committed to listening South Africans and driving the transformation agenda.
Mbalula told the thousands of people, who marched from Marabastad to Tshwane House, that the GNU was not an ideal situation, but one which was presented following the ANC’s disappointing election results.
“We chose the path of the GNU, not because we like it. We chose it for stability of South Africa. To us, we have always understood [this] and we are not confused,” he said.
Mbalula also used the event to criticise parties who assumed the position of the opposition even though they were now in government, particularly the Democratic Alliance, which was challenging policies of the government, including the Basic Education Law Amendment (BELA) Act.
“Helen Zille and all her surround her, they must be rest assured we will not be intimated. The BELA Bill will be in action in this country.
“Comrades, the NHI (National Health Insurance) was signed a long time ago. It must be implemented. And if there is no compromise, forward ever, backward never,” he said.
In the May general elections, the ANC experienced a significant decline in support, losing its grip on power.
However, Mbalula said that he remained optimistic, highlighting the six million voters who still supported the ANC, saying this demonstrated its enduring relevance in society.
“29 of May did not mean that the ANC is out of power. Six million South Africans said they want the ANC to continue to govern,” he said.
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