ANC puts special NEC meeting on ice, as big business lobbies to keep GNU intact

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) has moved to put its special national executive committee (NEC) meeting on ice, as big business lobbies to keep the Government of National Unity (GNU), with the Democratic Alliance (DA) intact.

Eyewitness News has reliably learnt the ANC will no longer hold its special NEC meeting on Monday, which was meant to chart a way forward following the DA’s refusal to support the fiscal framework in the National Assembly this week.

A national working committee, initially set for Sunday, is now set to sit on Monday, with the officials deliberating over the matter before then.

It’s also understood, representatives from the business sector have reached out to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and the DA’s John Steenhuisen, requesting that they find a way to salvage the GNU.

ANC NEC members, who are baying for blood, have not taken well to their party postponing the much-anticipated special NEC.

They fear this could mean its leadership is walking back from a clear message delivered to the ANC caucus earlier this week.

Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile, told Members of Parliament (MPs), the DA refusing to support the budget would effectively mean it’s booting itself out of the coalition of ten parties.

However, one ANC top official told Eyewitness News that they’ve reached a point of no return with the DA, but that the NEC had to be postponed allowing for thorough consultation.

Party members who’ve spoken to Eyewitness News have dismissed the views from big business. They say if Ramaphosa takes their word over his own party, he might as well call it quits on leading the ANC.

Meanwhile, the DA, whose leaders are divided on staying or leaving, have told the business sector to talk to the ANC if they want to keep the GNU as it is.

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