DA clings to GNU provided ANC comes to the party

CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen says his party does not want to quit the Government of National Unity (GNU).

But the African National Congress (ANC) must be open to a genuine power sharing arrangement.

With their relationship pushed to the brink last week over the DA’s refusal to support a vat increase and snubbing the budget framework – the ANC is giving the party another chance to make amends.

Steenhuisen says it’s not enough for his party to run clean government offices - without a meaningful say in the economic trajectory of the country.

“That’s all we are asking for from the ANC. Not for the DA to dominate. But to have a power-sharing arrangement where we are given a fair shot at being able to influence economic policy and direction of the country.”

Acknowledging his party had made missteps over the last nine months, Steenhuisen says double-dealing has not been one of them.

“During this whole course of our negotiations we never once went to speak to a single party outside of the GNU. It was the ANC who went outside the GNU to speak to other parties.”

Steenhuisen says he welcomes constructive discussion with the ANC as the two biggest gnu partners look to reset their rocky relationship.