There’s mounting pressure on the Democratic Alliance to leave the Government of National Unity and give up ministerial positions after failing to stop the passing of South Africa’s national budget.
The second largest party in the country and key player in the GNU unsuccessfully tried to use the budget process to blackmail the ANC into reversing some transformative policies such as the Expropriation Act, BELA Act and the National Health Insurance.
The rest of the parties in the GNU supported the budget during a parliamentary vote on Wednesday which includes a 0.5 % increase in Value Added Tax.
Action SA which has been yearning to join the GNU also supported the budget claiming to have reached a deal with the ANC which would see National Treasury come up with an alternative to the VAT hike within 30 days, an arrangement criticised by the Economic Freedom Fighters as not supported by any law.
Meanwhile the DA announced it will be heading to court to challenge the budget approval, provoking more calls for the party to be booted out of the GNU.
“The DA will file papers in the Western Cape High Court to challenge Parliament’s passing of the 2025/26 National Budget. This VAT hike budget will make life more expensive for everyone and the DA will go to court to fight for the interests of all South Africans,” said DA Leader John Steenhuisen who also serves as Minister of Agriculture in the GNU.
Steenhuisen’s colleague in the GNU cabinet Gayton McKenzie was quick to respond to the announcement telling the DA leader to also resign from his ministerial position.
McKenzie was also scathing against the DA during the budget debate saying the party was a bad partner and did not belong in the GNU.
“
five minutes before this hearing I was the one running around saying to people, we can’t lose the DA, we must convince the DA to remain. I’m standing here today to say Abahambe,” said McKenzie.
Another GNU partner that’s not in the executive but votes with the coalition in government in parliament Rise Mzansi accused the DA of having superiority complex which he said it showed by among others only talking to the ANC and not the rest of the parties in the GNU.
“The problem is the Democratic Alliance only speaks to the ANC, we speak to every body. The DA’a only friend is the ANC and the two of them don’t like each other at the moment,” said Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi following the passing of the budget.
More voices within the ANC are also expressing frustration with the DA and its negotiating tactics that have relied on holding a gun to the former liberation movement’s head.
“ You can’t vote against the budget and the next day you want to implement that budget. We have to draw the line,” said Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during the debate.
Godongwana’s outrage has been echoed by President Cyril Ramaphosa during a telephone conversation with Deputy President Paul Mashatile a recording of which has been leaked.
“I said to John you can’t be in government and also want to be the opposition, you can’t have your cake and still eat, you can’t have it both ways,” said Ramaphosa in the recording also indicating the DA had dug it’s own grave.