SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo said the DA faces a dilemma because it can’t reject the budget’s fiscal framework and then be part of the government that implements it.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) says it will be hypocritical of the DA to stay in the government of national unity (GNU) after it voted against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget on Wednesday.
The DA is the second largest partner in the GNU, but its position in the coalition is uncertain after its influence was undermined when the budget was passed.
This has led to speculation that the DA might decide to leave the GNU, or that the ANC will boot it out and replace it with other parties.
ALSO READ: ActionSA will negotiate in the best interests of people if party joins GNU, Mashaba says
SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo, speaking the SACP central committee meeting in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Saturday, said the DA cannot reject the budget and still expect to be part of the government that implements it.
The DA’s ‘dilemma’
“The dilemma that the DA faces is whether they can vote to reject the fiscal framework and, after doing so, go back to the government to implement it because that will be hypocritical.
“They must be the first persons to show themselves the door … what they must do now is walk the talk – they have to go out,” Mashilo told the SABC on the sidelines of the SACP central committee meeting.
WATCH: SACP spokesperson says DA is not a force in the GNU
SACP says DA must leave GNU
Mashilo added that the budget vote proved that the DA “is not a key factor in the GNU arrangement” and must be shown the door.
“It demonstrated through the voting patterns that there is a 50% plus one majority in parliament, excluding the DA, the MK party and the others.”
The SACP has previously been critical of the ANC for forming a government with the DA. In August, SACP leader Solly Mapaila called it a “gross error”.
He said at the time that the ANC had better options to form a coalition government.
ALSO READ: ‘A party only in name’: SACP could be embarrased if they go it alone
ANC leaders to discuss DA’s GNU future
On Friday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also criticised the DA for its rejection of the budget.
Speaking in Diepsloot, Gauteng, Mbalula said the DA now needs to decide whether it wants to stay in the GNU.
“The ANC, when we chose the path of GNU, we chose South Africa. It is South Africa and all of us behind.
“It is South Africa first and national interest. If we wanted a partnership with the DA only, we would have done that, and we’d call it the grand coalition,” he said.
He added that the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) will meet next week to discuss the latest developments.
“The ball is in [the DA’s] court. They have chosen the path. They must analyse and decide on the implications [because] if you say you don’t want a budget at all costs, you must walk.
“Now, we are being given a burden to decide the DA’s fate in the GNU, [but] it can’t be our burden.”
Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa
