DA says ANC Tshwane actions are a 'travesty,' but not worth leaving GNU

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) national leadership says the actions of the African National Congress (ANC) in Tshwane were a 'travesty', however, they are not worth leaving the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The ANC caucus in Tshwane has removed the DA-led coalition in the capital and replaced it with its own multiparty government.

The issue came up today during a media briefing by the DA, reflecting on its 100 days in the GNU.

Over the past few months, the ANC has removed DA mayors in the Oudtshoorn and Tshwane municipalities.

This has led to some within the DA’s regional structures asking the party’s leadership to reflect on its continued participation in the GNU.

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However, DA leader John Steenhuisen says there was never an agreement for the gnu to trickle down to local governments.

“There was however discussions about how we could seek to stabilise local government given the fact there is very real concern that if you are able to shift the needle at a national level and start to move things in the right direction, if you do not have an implementing ability at a local government level – particularly in the big cities – it would really be an obstacle to further economic growth and job creation.”

Steenhuisen says the DA won't be entertaining any local government negotiations with the ANC until what happened in Tshwane is rectified.