By Simon Nare
African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has ruled out any possibility of the ANC booting out political parties in the Government of National Unity over the budget impasse.
It will instead engage all parties to find a common ground.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting of the party’s national working committee, Mbalula committed the party to the GNU and said the NWC had mandated the negotiating teams to engage all political parties, including those who were not in the GNU.
He said the ANC had not resolved to expel GNU senior partner, the Democratic Alliance, after it voted against the budget last week.
Speculation has been rife that the DA’s days in the coalition government are numbered after President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a leaked voice note that the party had defined itself outside the GNU by opposing the budget that its ministers would be expected to implement.
Mbalula said despite the defiant attitude by the DA, the ANC would still try and engage the party on the remaining steps to approve the budget, but warned that the DA appeared to have taken a decision to leave the GNU.
He added that although the ANC was prepared to negotiate with the DA, the party was not going to beg. It was confident of getting support from other parties who were not part of the GNU.
Mbalula said all the parties in Parliament did not support value-added tax hike, but none so far had a clear solution to how the budget deficit would be raised. He accused the DA of shifting the goalposts by wanting to engage on other matters that had nothing to do with budget.
“If the DA walks, obviously they will be replaced by those who wish to participate in the GNU. If the DA does not walk, they will explain themselves why they are not walking. They will have to explain that we have decided to stay and why, because everything suggest that we are ready to walk to the moon.
“We didn’t dismiss anyone as government. Our president didn’t dismiss anybody. They chose to walk away but it looks like they are happy to stay, but you can’t stay without explaining how you are going to deal with the budget. We are not beholden to the DA, we are beholden to South Africa,” Mbalula said.
Shortly after Mbalula’s press conference, DA leader John Steeihuisen released a statement committing the party to the GNU, saying the ANC should also play its part by showing a commitment to sharing power.
Steenhuisen said his party has been consistent about its position on VAT inside and outside government, and not once did it go outside the GNU to lobby support as the ANC did.
This was in reference to the ANC making a deal with political parties ActionSA and Bosasa, which voted with the ANC to approve the budget framework.
“South Africa needs an era of co-governance, built on the implementation of bold, pro-growth reforms that create jobs and restores fiscal stability. That is why the DA signed the Statement of Intent and entered the GNU — we wanted shared governance that prioritises delivery and economic recovery over political convenience,” he said.
Mbalula said the ANC was hopeful that an agreement would be reached to finalise the outstanding steps to approve the budget.
He poured cold water on speculation that President Cyril Ramaphosa would reshuffle the Cabinet and replace DA MPs, but confirmed that the president would be engaging some ministers who did not support the budget.
He also said ActionSA’s submissions on tax would form part of negotiations.
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