Inside ANC's Secret Meetings – Dirty Laundry Aired: DA faces GNU expulsion as Budget Impasse Sparks Internal Rebellion

Johannesburg – The African National Congress (ANC) finds itself embroiled in a deep internal crisis as the party grapples with the future of its partnership with the Democratic Alliance (DA) within the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The ANC's recent decision to call off a special national executive committee (NEC) meeting, which was widely expected to decide on the DA's expulsion from the GNU, has ignited fury among NEC members who believe the DA should face severe consequences for its recent actions.

The catalyst for this internal strife is the DA's controversial decision to vote against the adoption of the national budget's fiscal framework in Parliament last week. This move was perceived by many within the ANC as a blatant betrayal of the GNU's spirit of collective responsibility and has raised serious questions about the DA's commitment to the coalition.

The cancelled NEC meeting was seen by many ANC leaders as the opportune moment to take decisive action against the DA. However, the ANC leadership opted for a more conciliatory approach, choosing to "reset" the GNU and engage in fresh talks with all parties involved. This decision has sparked accusations of certain individuals within the ANC leadership "working against the party mandate" and attempting to appease the DA.

The ANC's internal debate has intensified, with many questioning whether the DA, as a key GNU partner, should be allowed to undermine the government's fiscal framework. The situation has forced the ANC to scramble to stabilise the situation, leading to a flurry of meetings with various political parties, including both GNU partners and those outside the coalition.

These engagements included discussions with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Rise Mzansi, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Build One South Africa (BOSA), Al Jama-ah, the Good Party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and the DA itself.

A high-level ANC delegation, comprising Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa, second deputy secretary Maropene Ramokgopa, NEC member Parks Tau, and legal advisor Andries Nel, met with the DA's top brass in Johannesburg on Saturday in an attempt to resolve the impasse.

The DA delegation included Federal Council chair Helen Zille, party leader John Steenhuisen, Western Cape Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer, and senior figures Ashor Sarupen, Leon Schreiber, Thomas Walters, and Annelie Lotriet.

Following the meeting, Zille described the talks as "constructive," stating that "both sides spoke respectfully yet frankly about the need to resolve the impasse over the budget and enhance cooperation between the two parties in the context of the government of national unity."

Zille reiterated the DA's opposition to the proposed VAT increase contained in the fiscal framework, arguing that the party viewed it as "unaffordable in the absence of meaningful reforms."

However, beneath the veneer of constructive dialogue, the ANC finds itself at a critical juncture. Pressure is mounting from within its own ranks to sever ties with the DA. According to two senior NEC members, many ANC members had anticipated that the now-cancelled special NEC meeting would be used to formally remove the DA from the GNU.

"The meeting was the opportunity for the ANC to take that decision," one source said.

The source emphasised that the GNU was formed with the expectation that all parties would agree to and support collective decisions. The DA's decision to vote against the fiscal framework was therefore seen as a violation of this principle.

Another insider expressed concern that the DA issue was not tabled at the NEC, which is considered the highest decision-making body within the ANC. The source suggested that "it's as if someone is trying to please the DA."

The source further stated that the decision to refrain from expelling the DA indicated that there were leaders within the ANC who were willing to remain in government with a party that had "betrayed them despite signing the statement of intent."

"We understand that the statement of intent is not a legally binding document but a guideline. However, one needs to respect it. The statement of intent is clear that the relationship was to help in passing the budget with 50% plus one," the source said.

The NEC member argued that the DA's actions raised questions about its continued presence in the GNU. "There's a sentiment in the NEC that this is just a meaningless relationship which needs the party to eject," the source said.

Secretary-General Mbalula has publicly acknowledged that the ANC is still deliberating on the matter. "We are going back to understand – maybe the DA doesn't want to be in the GNU anymore," he said. "If they still want to be part of it, how do they then address the issue of the budget impasse? We don't have to second-guess each other."

Despite the growing calls for the DA's removal, DA leader Steenhuisen has maintained that his party remains committed to the GNU. "At no point in the last few weeks has the DA met, spoken to, or engaged with any party outside the GNU," Steenhuisen said. "The same cannot be said of the ANC."

The EFF, meanwhile, has seized the opportunity to position itself as a potential partner for the ANC – but with strict conditions. The EFF has made it clear that it will only cooperate with the ANC if both the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) are expelled from the GNU.

In a statement released after its meeting with the ANC, the EFF stated: "We reaffirmed our principled rejection of the 0.5 percentage point increase in VAT for 2025. The fiscal framework was adopted through a flawed and irregular process now subject to judicial review. While we are engaging the ANC, we are under no illusion that the VAT hikes can be reversed before 1 May."

EFF leader Julius Malema had previously stated that his party was willing to work with the ANC, but only if the DA and FF+ were removed from the coalition.

Mbalula, however, has dismissed the EFF's overtures and conditions outright. "Julius and his party worked with the DA in Johannesburg and voted for them to govern, including working with Herman Mashaba when he was DA," Mbalula said. "Even in Pretoria, we went to them and said: 'Let's work together.' They refused. So, this time, we will NEVER beg them. They can make pronouncements, but we will never beg the EFF and that MK Zuma party."

Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) secretary-general Floyd Shivambu revealed that the ANC had requested a meeting, but the MKP had rejected the offer. "We wrote back to the ANC and told them we won't be used to scare the DA and won't enter the domestic affairs of the so-called GNU," Shivambu said. "We have got the relevant platforms, as the MKP, where we will articulate our conditions."

The ANC has since announced that it will begin re-engaging both GNU partners and parties outside the coalition to reconfigure the GNU. This process is expected to determine the future of the multiparty governance framework and whether the DA remains a part of it.

In a statement released after the meeting with the DA, the ANC said it held a constructive engagement with the DA leadership as part of ongoing efforts to break the current budget impasse and reconfigure the GNU.

The ANC emphasised that it entered the GNU process with clear intentions: to build a broad-based consensus on rebuilding the country, accelerating service delivery, creating jobs, and tackling inequality. These goals, the ANC stressed, are not negotiable.

Follow Us on Twitter