ANC's Mbalula questions DA's maturity after insults over budget impasse
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula expressed his disappointment at how some DA leaders had conducted themselves.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 13 March 2025. Picture: Spamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has questioned the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s political maturity after some of the blue party's leaders insulted Government of National Unity (GNU) partners over the budget impasse.
DA member and former Tshwane mayor, Cilliers Brink, received backlash earlier this week after referring to ANC leaders as "fools" on social media.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Mbalula expressed his disappointment at how some DA leaders had conducted themselves.
The ANC and DA, which are the biggest parties in the GNU, have been divided by several issues but most recently the value-added tax (VAT) increase.
This has worsened their relationship, with the DA's future in the unity government being under question following its rejection of the fiscal framework.
But Mbalula said that although political parties may not agree on the VAT increase, a line should be drawn between political speech and personal insults.
"The DA, when they talk down on us, they call us fools and all sorts of names, they call us everything they want to call us but we know we have taken the right decision. We are the most mature political party in this country, we are not threatened by political parties."
The ANC said if the DA intended on leaving the GNU, it should not be under the illusion that the coalition structure would fall apart.