This is the second time in less than a week Mashaba has commented about being part of the GNU if asked to do so.
If ActionSA joins the government of national unity (GNU) it will negotiate in the best interests of South Africans, says party leader Herman Mashaba.
This is the second time in less than a week that Mashaba has commented about joining the GNU if asked to do so.
Previous stance
Amid ActionSA’s decision to vote with the ANC to support the national budget this week, Mashaba said in the event that President Cyril Ramaphosa invited his party to be part of the Cabinet, it will gladly accept the position.
This marks a stark contrast from his previous stance when he firmly rejected any suggestions that ActionSA should join the GNU.
Mashaba stated that ActionSA was of the view that a GNU would weaken the opposition and, thus, hold the government accountable.
“We fear that a desire to keep the coalition in power – and retain the privileges and benefits associated with their newfound positions – will come at the cost of accountability when inevitably decisions are made in self-interest.”
Watch Herman Mashaba speaking about the GNU
[WATCH] ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says if ActionSA joins the GNU, they will negotiate in the best interests of South Africans. #Newzroom405
Full interview: https://t.co/7K3S9acpiq pic.twitter.com/ugZN8DgJZo
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 5, 2025
ALSO READ: WATCH: Has 300 years passed? Mashaba says he’ll accept Cabinet post if Ramaphosa asks
GNU U-turn
“We are not going to work with people who are working against our country. People who are really prepared to go to the international world to tell them that things are bad in this country with misinformation.
“In fact, from the ANC point of view, if you look at the vitriol, the disrespect and the insults that the DA has unleashed against the ANC in the last few days, I cannot understand honestly for the life of me how the president and members of the ANC will accept to work with such a party. It is beyond me, but it’s up to the ANC, if they want to work with the DA, let them continue,” Mashaba said.
Not working with ANC
However, it was Mashaba, who in November 2021 after the local government elections, ruled out the possibility of getting into bed with the ANC, regardless of the offer presented. At the time, he said he was willing to work with other political parties.
Mashaba said he had been approached by a member of the ANC top six during informal talks at the results operation centre in Pretoria with a proposal for a coalition government.
“The only party that approached me informally is the ANC and I have asked them to wait for my call. But I know that it will not happen, not even in 300 years,” he said at the time.
ANC ‘humble’
However, Mashaba backtracked on his words in December last year, saying the only reason he decided to have a working relationship with the ANC is because the party is now “humble”.
ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, during a media briefing this week, also said the party would reconsider if it was asked to join the GNU.
“If the DA leaves the GNU, or if they are kicked out of the GNU, we will reconsider our position because the DA is good at opposition,” Trollip said.
“The opposition space is suddenly disproportionately full and the government space might be limited. So, we will re-evaluate. We will do that, but only once this VAT matter is sorted.”
Trollip, however said there had been no communication with the ANC over a reconfiguration of the GNU as yet.
ActionSA has a coalition with the ANC in the Johannesburg and Tshwane councils.
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