AfriForum: DA, FF Plus being co-opted in GNU to rubber-stamp ANC policy

JOHANNESBURG - AfriForum has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus of being used in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to rubber-stamp African National Congress (ANC) policy.

The lobby group said the two parties should reconsider their continued participation in the GNU, following the signing into law of the BELA Act.

AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement held a media briefing on Thursday where they outlined their first step to legally challenge certain clauses of the act.

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Last year, the DA said the signing of the BELA Act in its current form would represent a red line for it.

However, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the BELA Bill into law with no amendments.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the DA and FF Plus cannot be passive participants in the GNU.

"There’s a real danger at the moment, those parties are simply co-opted by the ANC in the GNU to implement ANC policy and that is their decision if it’s something they can live with."

AfriForum said the DA and FF Plus must make a decision whether it's better to be in government or in opposition when the debate around the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) comes up this year.