Latest news with #non-GNU
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
‘We're not here to save the ANC' - DA sharpens its stance in GNU
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen's says the GNU has experienced ups and downs since its formation. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen has admitted that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has experienced a 'tough' first year, but said progress is being made and many priorities are on track. 'Yes, it's been a tough year - a year of many ups and downs, but I think the GNU has survived a year. Many people never thought it would last more than a few months, yet here we are,' Steenhuisen said. He was speaking in Hanover Park, Cape Town, where the DA celebrated its 25th anniversary since its formation. The GNU, formed following the May 2024 general elections, came after the African National Congress (ANC) failed to secure a majority for the first time since the advent of democracy in 1994. The coalition includes the ANC, the DA, Freedom Front Plus and several smaller parties, some of whom were former rivals. However, the unity government has been marred by internal tensions, particularly over policy implementation, leadership disputes, and allegations of corruption and a lack of accountability. The DA, which is the second-largest party in the GNU, has clashed with its partners on multiple legislative fronts. It has challenged the Expropriation Without Compensation Act and the Employment Equity Amendment Act in court. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In April, the party successfully contested the passage of the fiscal framework in Parliament, a bill the ANC pushed through with support from non-GNU parties such as ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA). Steenhuisen, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, said the GNU has faced numerous political tests, including disputes over a controversial 0.2% increase in VAT. 'We have been battle-tested in the VAT debate. We now have a budget that will be passed this week,' he said. 'We've got a medium-term development plan that has been passed. We have a fiscal framework, I think we are well on track.' Despite tensions, Steenhuisen emphasised that the coalition must deliver on its promises to the public. 'I think the GNU has to accelerate at a whop speed our initiatives to grow the economy,' he said. South Africa continues to grapple with major challenges, including high unemployment, rampant crime, poverty, a water and electricity crisis, pothole-riddled roads, sewer spills, and poor sanitation. GNU leaders had pledged to address these issues, but have so far made limited progress. 'The GDP growth for the first quarter this year is not a good story,' Steenhuisen said. 'We've got to do far more - and far quicker, to stimulate the economy and drive the reforms needed to lift South Africa off its current trajectory of high debt and unemployment.' With the 2029 general election on the distant horizon, Steenhuisen said the GNU has four years left to prove itself. 'We cannot wait any longer. The GNU must show South Africans why they should back the builders, not the breakers,' he said. 'And we can only do that if we demonstrate to citizens that we've grown the economy, created jobs, reduced poverty, and lowered the cost of living - the issues that really affect ordinary people on the ground.' IOL News previously reported that political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe questioned the DA's motives in the coalition. 'DA federal chair Helen Zille has been very clear that she didn't join the GNU to save the ANC. She's only there to keep Ramaphosa in power because he serves the interests of certain elites,' he said. 'You can't have a coalition where one party has publicly vowed to destroy another. That's not a partnership, that's sabotage...' Seepe added that the DA is pursuing its own policy direction and will continue opposing key ANC legislative efforts, including NHI and the BELA Bill. 'The DA is not in the GNU to help. They're in it to advance their own goals.' IOL Politics
Daily Maverick
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA almost has a Budget — finance committee adopts fiscal framework, despite MK and EFF rejections
After multiple false starts, a key aspect of the 2025 Budget was adopted in Parliament on Wednesday, with the support of the ANC and DA. When the second iteration of the 2025 Budget came before Parliament's finance committee in April, the divisions in the Government of National Unity (GNU) were on full display. The Democratic Alliance (DA) refused to support the adoption of the fiscal framework and it only moved through the committees and then the National Assembly thanks to the support of non-GNU parties such as ActionSA. On Wednesday, 4 June, the GNU's largest members, the African National Congress (ANC) and DA, finally found each other and the fiscal framework was passed by a vote of seven to three. The passing of the fiscal framework is a key step in the budgeting process. This framework establishes economic policy and revenue projections and sets the overall limits to government spending. This report must be adopted within 16 days after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the Budget. While the DA opposed the fiscal framework in Budget 2.0, Wednesday's situation was different, with both the ANC and DA supporting the measure against the opposition of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party. Wednesday's meeting was briefly halted to find a bigger venue in Parliament to accommodate all the MPs, journalists and officials, as well as ensure it was recorded, in line with MPs' requests. There were several comments and queries by MK party MPs, including axed finance minister Des van Rooyen and former Eskom boss Brian Molefe. At one point, Molefe said the fiscal framework should include the expanded unemployment rate (43.1%) rather than the narrow definition (32.9%), but his suggestion was shot down. The MK and EFF also criticised the increase in the fuel levy, with Molefe describing it as 'regressive' and 'not pro-growth'. On Tuesday, the Western Cape Division of the High Court dismissed the EFF's urgent bid to block the fuel levy increase. Issues were raised on whether the Budget was that of an austerity budget, denied by the ANC – an answer the MK party and EFF continued to reject. It was questioned several times during the meeting whether MPs were making points simply to grandstand 'because there were cameras'. This seemed evident when EFF MP Omphile Maotwe raised objections over a section of the report that dealt with 'not providing bailouts' to state-owned entities (SOEs), rather than 'capitalising SOEs'. Maotwe said she was at Transnet when she claimed it had been successful under the management of fellow finance committee member Brian Molefe – the former Transnet CEO turned State Capture accused, and now a member of the MK Party on its parliamentary benches. Next week, the National Assembly will vote on whether to adopt the fiscal framework in a sitting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. When the fiscal framework is passed, other steps in the budgeting process include the passing of the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriation Bill. During the tabling of the fiscal framework in the National Assembly in April, the ANC appeared jubilant when it was passed without the DA's support, while the DA had harsh words for the ANC and other parties who supported that version of the Budget. It's unlikely there will be such acrimony next week. DM
Eyewitness News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Analysts say DA's court tactics within GNU an effective way to challenge positions it disagrees with
JOHANNESBURG - While some have accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of undermining the Government of National Unity (GNU) by taking matters to the courts, analysts say it's the most effective way to retrospectively challenge positions it disagrees with. The DA has taken both the Expropriation without Compensation Act and the Employment Equity Amendments Act to the courts. In April, it successfully challenged the passing of a fiscal framework in Parliament, a move the African National Congress (ANC) pushed through with the help of non-GNU parties like ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA). The DA is the second-largest member of the GNU. Its attempts to reverse the government's stance on the two acts, as well as the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, have been politically unsuccessful. READ: DA argues Parly erred in processing of Employment Equity Amendment Act Independent analyst, Luhkona Mguni, said it was not surprising, as the DA is known for being litigious. But he said that government must ensure there are no gaps in the laws passed. "The other question is those who frame legislation, regulations and policies are adherent to the Constitution, cause whether they are taken to court by the DA, or any other entity for that matter, if what they are prescribing and what they are putting on paper and passing through our institutions of democracy does not stand constitutional master, then there is a problem." This week has also seen the courts deliver judgment on the dual citizenship challenge and cadre deployment, which were taken up during the DA's time on the opposition benches. Meanwhile, Wit's University's Professor Susan Booysen said that the DA's decision to use the courts sent an important message to its supporters. "DA wants to show its followers, its voters, that yes, we have influence to make a difference. We saw it articulated in a statement by Helen Zille a day or so ago, where she says they will operate in whatever way it has the most impact."
