ANC to meet DA and FF Plus over future of GNU following budget debacle
Both the DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) have expressed a desire to stay in the GNU despite their continued refusal to support the national budget.
FILE: The DA and ANC entered into an arrangement in the Government of National Unity. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - The ANC will this weekend meet with its two Government of National Unity (GNU) partners who have refused to support Finance Minister Enoch Gondogwana’s budget.
The much-anticipated sit-down with the DA is set for Saturday in Johannesburg.
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The ANC and DA are the country’s two largest political parties and have locked horns over a VAT hike and the latter’s demand for more power in the national coalition.
Both the DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) have expressed a desire to stay in the GNU despite their continued refusal to support the national budget.
While some in the ANC have told the GNU talks are aimed at helping save the DA from itself, the blue party is highly unlikely to see the attempts to reset the coaltion in this light.
ANC insiders believe enough time has passed since last week’s budget vote to allow for constructive discussions to take place.
This was also the hope of some in the DA – for cool heads to meet at the table and for the parties to come to some sort of understanding.
However, DA insiders insist there can be no way forward if the ANC does not learn to share power.
The ANC is attempting to put in place rules that will protect the budget going forward.
On Sunay, the ANC will hold talks with the FF-plus – the other party refusing to back the budget.
Once individual meetings have been put to bed, an attempt to gather all parties to discuss a way forward will follow.