MK Party says it snubbed ANC GNU reset talks after invitation to participate
Days after smaller parties helped the ANC get the fiscal framework over the line in the National Assembly, the country's biggest political party announced it would begin talks that could see the GNU reconfigured.
MK Party secretary general Floyd Shivambu. Picture: EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP
JOHANNESBURG - The MK Party says it has decided not to enter the fray as the ANC continues talks to reset the government of national unity (GNU).
Days after smaller parties helped the ANC get the fiscal framework over the line in the National Assembly, the country's biggest political party announced it would begin talks that could see the GNU reconfigured.
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The future of the DA and FF Plus in the multi-party coalition hangs in the balance after the parties publicly opposed the ANC's contentious budget.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Gauteng leg of MK leader Jacob Zuma’s 83rd birthday celebrations in Soweto on Saturday, the party's secretary general Floyd Shivambu confirmed they snubbed fresh GNU talks.
The ANC and DA are in talks to iron out differences over budget 2025.
The main bone of contention is the inclusion of a 0.5 percentage point VAT increase.
The aborted February budget included a proposal for a two percentage point increase, which was later revised down to 1 percentage point over two years.
The DA's decision to oppose National Treasury’s revenue-raising plans again laid bare the already fragile GNU relationship.
The ANC has since started talks with other parties in what could become a reconfigured GNU.
But Shivambu says the ANC has found no joy in approaching Zuma's party.
"We have received a letter from the ANC secretary general and we responded to say we don’t want to enter into the domestic affairs of the government of national unity."
The meeting with the DA will be followed by a meeting with the FF Plus before a final decision is taken.