The ANC is confident it will not be overrun by the DA and expressed confidence it has the former opposition in a corner.
As President Cyril Ramaphosa convened a cabinet Lekgotla this week, him and his ANC colleagues were expected to ignore threats by the DA not to allocate funds for implementation of disputed programmes such as the National Health Insurance (NHI) which were all signed into law amid fierce opposition from the blue party.
The DA on Tuesday threatened to not support the budget should the ANC not budge but the party through Secretary General Fikile Mbalula dismissed the threat likening it to blackmail.
This threat does not appear to hold much as the ANC’s minority government of Gauteng province is seemingly managing to pass budgets and processes other decisions without the DA suggesting the party is not as influential as it presented itself to be.
Just a week or so after returning from DA-run Western Cape where it marked its 113th year of existence and kept the DA on the backfoot exposing widespread neglect in black communities, the party is vowing to expose what it believes to be a false narrative that things work where the DA governs.
While the ANC’s National Executive Committee appeared to be focusing on regaining ground in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said the party was also wants to reclaim the Western Cape as well strengthening itself in provinces it won narrowly such as Northern Cape, Free State and Mpumalanga.
Mbalula said the ANC risked being a permanent opposition party if in the Western Cape it does not regain lost support and is proactively challenging the ”A over its perceived racism.
“We are not dominated by the DA at all, we know what they stand for and what we want, we are implementing the BELA Bill, yes we are also the NHI (National Health Insurance). This (GNU) strategic manoeuvre and we are in charge.
The DA had threatened to walkout of the GNU if the ANC implemented the two transformative pieces of legislation but has not done so and was forced to abandon court action against Ramaphosa which seems to have been left to its allies Afro-Forum and Trade Union Solidarity.
Residents in the City of Tshwane where an ANC-led coalition unseated the DA in October have expressed hope that they will finally get services after being under successive DA administrations for 8 years which they claimed focused on affluent areas, usually dominated by minorities.
“They did not care about us, all of them ( DA mayors) everything went to these white areas, the new coalition comes to our communities and we are hopeful now because streets are being cleaned, water issues are being attended to and our communities will thrive,” said a Thabo Mokoka, resident.
Mbalula said ANC structures in the provinces that the party identified as vulnerable, were expected to come up with programmes of their own aimed at reconnecting with communities and fending off any possible takeover by the DA and its continued dominance in the Western Cape.
“The ANC in the Western Cape is focused on addressing systemic inequality while improving value for money, accountability and service delivery for everyone, regardless of background. Everyone should feel their local leaders represent them, not a privileged few. We also wish to restore dignity to marginalized communities,” said Khalid Sayed, ANC Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.
He called out the DA accusing it of simply ignoring racialised inequalities.
“The underdevelopment of black townships is a direct legacy of apartheid spatial planning, which the DA-led provincial government has perpetuated through unequal resource allocation. Instead of addressing this inequality, the DA’s focus has been on affluent areas,” said Sayed.
An Independent political analyst said while it was expected for parties in the GNU to try and outshine each other, the DA appeared more concerned with public relations than the plight of the people.
“Its an approach that says ‘they look at me, I am the best in the class’, you know showmanship as opposed to actual delivery and this is visible in the Western Cape and Cape Metro where the DA is governing, you can see there’s no hope in Khayelitsha, Phillipi and other townships yet Cape Town scoops awards for being best city and so so on. Tshwane fell apart under DA and the townships were completely neglected so those kinds of tactics were expected from the DA,” said the analyst Melusi Ncala.
The DA’s manoeuvres In the GNU has caused tension internally with its former spokesperson and now basic education minister Siviwe Rwarwube seemingly choosing country over party on Bela Bill and other issues of transformation.
In the Free State, the ANC Deputy Chairperson Toto KetsoMakume said while the ANC is busy building its branches in the province different views by some individuals on the DA were are allowed in a democratic environment. But was quick to say that the DA is not a progressive party.
“DA is not a progressive movement which really appreciate the racial divide that our country is experiencing that are also being created by apartheid system. DA is in the main only interested in defending the whites interests and other things will follow. The two pieces of legislation are a part of creating an equal society. Access to both education and health are a human right issue.”
However, Khalid Sayed, the NC Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson and Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature said while apartheid as a system has ended, its legacy remains entrenched in the Western Cape under the DA.
“The DA’s governance model prioritizes wealthy areas while neglecting poorer black communities. For example: Unequal Education Funding: Schools in townships face overcrowding and teacher shortages while affluent schools are well-resourced,” he said.
Sayed said, there are service Delivery Disparities, and Black communities often experience delayed or inadequate access to basic services like water and housing.
“These patterns reinforce apartheid-era inequalities.But You only have to talk a walk around poorer areas across the Western Cape to see this answer for yourself. It’s right in front of our eyes every day,” he added.
The ANC’s collaboration with the DA at the national level is based on the principle of ensuring stable governance for the benefit of all, he said adding that there are nine parties in the GNU, not two. However, the DA remains opposed to transformative policies such as the National Health Insurance and redistribution of resources to address inequality.
“Key policy differences include: Economic Transformation: The ANC focuses on inclusive growth and reducing inequality, while the DA’s policies benefit the elite. Social Welfare: The DA resists progressive measures like the Bela Bill, which would improve access to education for disadvantaged children.”
Sayed added that the DA’s opposition to the NHI and Bela Bill reflects their alignment with private sector interests and their reluctance to address systemic inequality.
“On NHI: The DA prioritises privatized healthcare, which excludes the majority of South Africans who cannot afford private care. On Bela Bill: Their opposition reveals a lack of commitment to creating equitable access to quality education, especially for learners in rural and township schools” he said adding that the two parties also differs on foreign policy.
DA leader John Steenhuisen’s visit to Ukraine appears to support the DA’s alignment with Western narratives and priorities, he said this is in stark contrast to the ANC’s commitment to a multipolar world order and its solidarity with oppressed peoples.
“The ANC firmly supports the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice and continues to advocate for an end to Israeli occupation, while welcoming the proposed ceasefire. Regarding Russia, the ANC acknowledges its historical role in supporting liberation movements in Africa and seeks balanced, respectful relations with all nations.”
The DA has also earned a new opponent in the form of traditional leaders whom it claims will have too much power if the government went ahead with its land expropriation plan.
The DA believes it would be reckless for the state to restore to traditional authorities, control of land, which they were dispossessed of by colonial and apartheid rulers.
Provincial governments in 8 provinces have over the years spent significant resources on assisting traditional authorities administer their affairs properly with DA-run Western Cape being the only one treating them as insignificant.
The DA meanwhile has been losing control of local government in the Western Cape with the ANC and another right-wing formation Freedom Front + coming together to unseat DA-led coalitions in councils across the province.
Zille has attributed the defeat of the DA in the Western Cape to what she claims is illl-discipline in the FF+.
She said the DA was trying to setup a meeting with the top leadership of FF+ in a bid to avert the removal of more DA mayors and governments.
Similar loses has been seen in the Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municiplity where the DA to control of the metro.
Cosatu’s provincial secretary in KZN, Edwin Mkhize, said the Government of National Unity (GNU) led by the ANC has completely shut workers out of governance.
“The ANC will not serve the previously disadvantaged if it continues to be in alliance with parties such as the DA. That is why we are taking to the streets to voice our dissatisfaction with the current government,” said Mkhize.
“As workers, we feel like our voices have been silenced. We cannot allow this to continue any longer,” he said.
Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa hit back at the DA.
“But here is a particular political party in the GNU saying it’s wasteful expenditure to assist traditional leaders. It says the land should not be given to tribal authorities. What are we as traditional leaders going to do about this party in the GNU?” said Contralesa President Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena
