GNU parties come to defence of Godongwana after MK Party bays for his blood

CAPE TOWN - Coalition partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) came out to bat for the finance minister on Friday, after the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party called for Enoch Godongwana to be censured by the National Assembly over his handling of the budget process. 

During a mini-debate, Godongwana even got the support from the Democratic Alliance (DA), which in April took the minister to court over a proposal to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate. 

GNU partners say rather than view the delays as an indictment on his leadership, he should be commended for allowing democratic processes to prevail. 

As the MK Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) slammed the finance minister for causing uncertainty and chaos with three attempts to table a national budget, the DA’s Mark Burke was first to defend him. 

“A motion of censure should not be brought to punish those who practice democracy. From the Cabinet, to the legislative and finally to the judicial sphere, our contestation with the finance minister over the VAT issue occurred over the entire plan.” 

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)’s chief whip, Nhlanhla Hadebe, said while the budget had been the most serious challenge of the GNU to date, the minister doesn’t deserve a reprimand.

“While the circumstances were certainly extraordinary, they revealed the resilience of South Africa’s constitutional framework.”

The Freedom Front (FF) Plus’ Wouter Wessels said even though the budget situation had been both unprecedented and undesirable, a shutdown of government would be far worse. 

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Alliance (PA)’s Millicent Mathopa said Godongwana deserved to be commended for his leadership under both political and fiscal pressures.

The motion will be put to the vote in the National Assembly on Thursday.