POLITRICKING | Holomisa: DA out of order for trying to hold country to ransom

JOHANNESBURG - "The GNU (Government of National Unity) is here to stay," said Bantu Holomisa, leader of UDM, as he defended the 10-party coalition amidst talk of its imminent collapse.

Holomisa, who featured on this week’s Politricking with Tshidi Madia, an EWN politics podcast, said those considering walking away from the coalition should do so, giving those who remain an opportunity to engage with other parties, with the view of bringing them into the formation. 

During the interview, Holomisa discussed South Africa’s tensions with both Rwanda and the United States, news of South African troops being able to return home, being back in government, serving in both the first and second GNU governments, as well as the future of his organisation. 

The politician, better known as “The General,” also accused the DA of attempting to hold the country ransom over the budget impasse. 

“I don't think it's correct, and we don't have time, even if you are talking about those demands, now, how do you implement them? Because if you say we must start from scratch to do budgeting, the budget takes at least nine months to prepare, they know that,” he said. 

Holomisa during his time in the ANC, before forming his own splinter party, the UDM was part of the GNU under the late former statesman Nelson Mandela, said the two can never be compared to one another, as the first GNU formation was extending an olive branch to other parties while the 2024 coalition was born out of necessity.

“A coalition by its nature will always have tensions because we come from different ideologies, no one thought it would be smooth sailing from day one. I am not surprised that sometimes there are parties who will want to do a certain posture if they are not happy,” said Holomisa.  

Contrary to what the DA has been suggesting, Holomisa said decisions are taken following thorough consultations. 

The GNU finds itself deep in the throes of a power tussle between its two major parties, with the ANC and DA facing off in public. The latter refused to support the 2025 policy budget statement, which was tabled by minister Enoch Gondogwana last month, this as it objected to a 0.5%-point increase in VAT. It argued the ANC failed to consult its coalition partners in making the decision, however Holomisa claims parties in the GNU ventilate national issues frequently. 

“So far I have not detected that the ANC is bullying the DA or bullying others,” observed Holomisa. 

He claimed a fair process, which sees the ANC tabling its agenda and giving other partners an opportunity to put their issues on the table is how the coalition is run. 

According to The General, even the clearing house, a mechanism created to help comb through differences between GNU partners is also effective; a view, which isn’t necessarily supported by the DA and some in the ANC.
 
Holomisa seemed keen to support the budget, despite having first joined a chorus of those who rejected a suggested 2%-point increase in VAT. 

“Rules are rules, the NHI, Bela were approved by parliament, they advised us that we cannot change that, we accepted that, so the DA is not satisfied with that. They are free to go to the con (constitutional) court, that’s the route,” said Holomisa. 

“But for them to say we cannot approve budget until you have withdrawn Bela act and this and that, they are out of order, they must be told,” he said. 

On tensions between South Africa and Rwanda, Holomisa said the country was simply not ready, making the mandate of enforcing discipline in Eastern DRC difficult. 

The deputy defence minister also attempted to downplay a haphazard media briefing he and minister Angie Motshekga held.

“It was not an embarrassment, I did not contradict the minister,” said Holomisa. 
He claims lessons from the incident have been learnt. 

Holomisa also told EWN he supported calls for an inquiry into the mission that saw 14 members of the South African National Defence force killed on the frontline.

And when it comes to his future, he’s not ready to step down as leader of the UDM.

“One day I will say my knee is not right, my back is painful… but for now… I still have a bit of an appetite,” he said.

“Members of the party are the ones who must decide… I have not yet gotten that signal from within,” he added.