ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has underplayed the impact of the DA in the Government of National Unity.
Mbalula who delivered a message of support at the Central Executive Committee meeting of the The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in Boksburg said the DA wrongly thought it would be able to implement its own programme in the coalition but was stopped at its tracks.
“It’s not true what they have been saying that they’re in charge. The DA went in there thinking they were going to do their own thing only to find out that’s not how it works,” said Mbalula.
He said President Cyril Ramaphosa remains in full control.
“They did not even understand how the government works. In that cabinet it is the president who is in charge,” said Mbalula.
Mbalula did concede that the ANC is currently held at ransom by the DA in parliament. There they have us, everyday I find myself having to negotiate with Helen Zille and the other white people even for the smallest things. You saw what they did with the budget trying to undermine the whole thing,” said Mbalula.
The Secretary General said talks are underway with other political parties as part of efforts to broaden the GNU.
“We are talking and by now should have been having something to announce on that because we want to end the back and forth you saw us go through with the budget,” he said.