ANC's Mbalula says 'we're shocked' DA is still part of GNU

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula says he’s surprised the Democratic Alliance (DA) is still part of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Mbalula made the comments during a multi-party media briefing on Thursday, saying he didn’t think the DA would still want to form party of the coalition pact.

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He was responding to the DA’s opposition on the national budget, and its court bid to reverse the value-added tax (VAT) hike.

The DA’s decision to take the contentious VAT increase to the Western Cape High Court has been criticised by most GNU partners.

Since the formation of the GNU, the DA has opposed several pieces of legislation, including the Bela Act, the National Health Insurance Act, the Expropriation Act and most recently the national budget.

Mbalula expressed surprise at the DA's continued interest in being part of the executive, given their opposition to these critical policies.

"The fact that you are still here, we are shocked – because you can’t support something that you have not been party to, and that has been the issue for us, and we put it across."

Mbalula says discussions around the restructuring of the GNU have yet to take place, but the DA’s conduct suggests it wants out.

"We have always said reconfigurations depend on conduct. If you say, 'I’m not supporting this thing and I’m in government', you are defining yourself outside of the GNU."

There is a growing appetite within the GNU for the DA to leave the pact.

Several parties expressed this sentiment during the multi-party media briefing.