ANC, DA describe latest GNU talks as constructive following weeks of public spats over the budget
The two warring parties met on Saturday in Johannesburg, following weeks of failed negotiations around the fiscal policy framework, which saw the DA refusing to support the first part of the budget.
FILE: The DA and ANC entered into an arrangement in the Government of National Unity. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - Following weeks of public spats and a deadlock over the budget, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have both described their latest Government of National Unity (GNU) talks as constructive.
The two warring parties met on Saturday in Johannesburg.
This follows weeks of failed negotiations around the fiscal policy framework, which saw the DA refusing to support the first part of the budget.
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The ANC relied on small parties in the GNU as well as ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA) to get over the hurdle.
While both the ANC and DA have described their meeting as fruitful, Eyewitness News understands there’s still some way to go before relations have fully mended.
The DA has maintained that it wants the value-added tax (VAT) hike scrapped from the budget and for economic growth measures to be accelerated.
This is a view held by most parties the ANC has met with over the past week, as well as many of its own members, who believe an increase in VAT will condemn the country’s poorest.
Meanwhile, ANC leaders have been speaking past one another about the intention of these talks.
Earlier in the week, secretary general Fikile Mbalula labelled them as a reset of the GNU. However, the party’s deputy president, Paul Mashatile, during a public address, said these are aimed at reconfiguring the GNU.
The ANC will continue meeting with other parties on Sunday.