SONA debate: Battle lines between ANC & DA once again drawn

The battlelines between the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) have once again been drawn as Parliament wrapped up debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Wednesday.

While the DA said it’s not just in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to get along with its coalition partners, the ANC said the party must choose whether it wants to be in government or the opposition.

The contentious issue of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has featured frequently over the two-day debate after President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear in his address a week ago that the ANC’s policy would not be abandoned.

Sweeping the marathon debate, the DA’s deputy chief whip, Baxolile Nodada, said his party will not be a passive participant of the ANC’s policies in the GNU.

“The DA will definitely challenge BEE, which is a cadre enrichment scheme dressed up as redress. It must be replaced by the DA’s empowerment model that focuses on poverty as a matrix of empowerment.”

As the final speaker, Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola was quick to hit back at the DA’s role in the GNU, pointing out that achievements the DA has been crediting to themselves have been made on the back of the ANC’s groundwork.

Lamola said the GNU does not mean burying Black Economic Empowerment initiatives, which are aimed at benefiting the marginalised and excluded.

“Black Economic Empowerment, affirmative action is a constitutional imperative. This must sink in, even to the Democratic Alliance.”

Ramaphosa will respond to the debate on Thursday afternoon.