UPDATE: ANC and DA describe GNU reset meeting as constructive

JOHANNESBURG - The DA has described its much anticipated meeting with the ANC over the budget impasse as constructive.

Its federal council chairperson Helen Zille, in a short statement, says negotiating teams representing both parties engaged robustly but in a respectful manner.

ALSO READ:

Tensions between the two parties reached fever pitch last week when the DA refused to vote in favour of the fiscal framework – the first part of the budget process adopted through the assistance of ActionSA.

The DA has been demanding a greater say in the government of national unity (GNU).

Zille says the DA also used its meeting on Saturday to reiterate its opposition of the proposed VAT increase.

"It was a fruitful meeting, in which we spoke very frankly around the issues that had led to the budget impasse. The DA reiterated its opposition to a VAT increase, particularly in the absence of any meaningful reform plan that will lead to economic growth and many more jobs."

The ANC echoed the DA's sentiments, hailing the meeting with its largest GNU partner as constructive.

It says the country must come first.

The party is attempting to reset its GNU configuration by introducing more rules to manage the coalition.

Th former liberation movement – which had to manage calls from its members to dump the DA - on Saturday affirmed its unwavering commitment to the principles of dialogue, nation building and collective leadership.

In a statement following the pair’s meeting, the ANC said it entered the GNU process with clear intentions - to build a broad-based consensus on rebuilding the country.

The ANC is expected to continue its meetings with political parties tomorrow.