SONA 2025: DA adamant about pressurising ANC to expedite economic growth under GNU

JOHANNESBURG – Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen is adamant his party will continue to put pressure on the African National Congress (ANC) to move faster and more decisively to expedite economic growth. 

Ahead of Thursday’s first State of the Nation Address of the Government of National Unity (GNU) - Steenhuisen has on Wednesday been lauding the successes ministers from his party have achieved since its formation seven months ago. 

Steenhuisen says while he accepts his party won’t always get its way on policy - it won’t deter it from pushing for the reforms it believes the country needs. 

The DA says while it’s made great strides in the six ministerial portfolios under its control - there are still policy differences on key legislation such as the National Health Insurance and the Expropriation Acts that need to be thrashed out. 

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“We need to urgently accelerate infrastructure investment with public private partnerships in transport and water which is a huge new crisis facing the country.”

He says despite criticism the party has faced over the way it’s conducted itself within the GNU - it stands by its principles on contentious policy matters that have caused friction. 

“I believe fundamentally that no matter how difficult the going has been, no matter how tough the analysis that has been shared has been, it’s undeniable that South Africa is immeasurably better off now for having the DA in government.”

Steenhuisen says he hopes President Cyril Ramaphosa will include some of the reforms recommended by the party - when he delivers the SONA.