By Zukile Majova
- The ANC is moving to weaken the DA’s power in the GNU after budget clashes and court action.
- Ramaphosa still trusts DA ministers with major projects despite rising pressure to remove them.
The ANC is not kicking the DA out of the government of national unity (GNU), but it is working on a plan to weaken the DA’s grip on power within the coalition.
From the start, the unity government has depended on the DA. With more than 20% of the national vote, the DA held enough influence to block ANC moves if it refused to agree.
This power came from a clause in the GNU agreement that said decisions must be made with “sufficient consensus”. Without the DA, the ANC couldn’t reach that consensus—even with the support of all other partners.
But now, the ANC wants to change that.
After the DA voted against the budget and took the matter to court, the ANC looked elsewhere for support. They turned to Rise Mzansi, Build One SA and ActionSA.
In a top-level meeting on Monday, the ANC’s national working committee decided to rework the GNU setup and budget rules to reduce the DA’s influence.
ANC secretary Fikile Mbalula said they were hitting the “reset button” and planning to bring more parties into the GNU.
If more parties join, the DA will lose its key bargaining chip—and walking out will no longer collapse the GNU.
It will also mean the ANC can pass budgets and policy decisions without needing DA support.
The meeting also showed that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s faction remains strong within the ANC.
Ramaphosa is under pressure from within the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP to dump the DA and work with the EFF instead—but he’s resisting.
The DA still plays a major role in Ramaphosa’s long-term plans.
Dean MacPherson, the DA’s Minister of Public Works, leads a R1-trillion infrastructure drive.
Siviwe Gwarube runs the Department of Basic Education, where billions are being spent to end pit latrines and formalise early childhood development.
DA leader John Steenhuisen is working on saving commercial farming and bringing down food prices.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber is in charge of border control and immigration—issues that have sparked violence in provinces like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
DA deputy minister Ashor Sarupen is helping steer the country’s finances, and Ramaphosa is also counting on the DA’s good ties with the United States to help with relations under President Donald Trump.
Trump is unhappy about South Africa’s Expropriation Act, saying it threatens land owned by white South Africans.
Ironically, it’s only DA minister MacPherson who has legal power to carry out land expropriation for development.
Pictured above: ANC secretary Fikile Mabalula.
Image source: ANC
