Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille has conceded that South Africa is governed by a grand coalition between itself and the ANC and not a Government of National Unity (GNU).
The GNU was formed after the 29 May elections as no party achieved an outright majority to govern the country on its own.
DA ADMITS THAT SA IS NOT GOVERNED BY A GNU
Speaking at an engagement hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Zille said from the beginning, President Cyril Ramaphosa came up with the idea of a GNU which he thought would be a better way of selling the concept of a coalition to the African National Congress (ANC).
Zille admitted that SA is governed by a GNU.
“Of course this is not a Government of National Unity, because a GNU brings all parties together which would have had to include the EFF and MK Party which it did not. It still gave the president the fig leaf he needed to the include all the smaller parties to say he isn’t in a coalition with the DA.
“Now, the truth is we are actually in a coalition because a coalition means that if a partner withdraws from the coalition the government falls,” Zille said.
During negotiations the DA demanded key government portfolios, however, President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the DA the Department of Education, Home Affairs, Communications and Digital Technologies, Agriculture and Public Works.
EFF SAYS IT IS EXONERATED
Following Zille’s address, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it is exonerated in its original characterisation of the GNU.
Since its inception, the Red Berets have rejected and labelled the GNU as a grand coalition between the DA and ANC. They also accused the ANC of selling out.
“It is common knowledge that the foundational document which constituted the GNU was signed by Helen Zille and Fikile Mbalula to
solidify the relationship and grand coalition between the two political parties. This explains why the ANC refused to entertain any amendment to the foundational document, which the EFF said must include the Freedom Charter, Progressive Internationalism, and a commitment to redress our colonial and apartheid past,” the EFF said.
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