DA recommits to GNU but warns it won't tolerate being 'mere spectators' to ANC

Thabiso Goba
28 January 2025 | 11:16DA leader John Steenhuisen said that the party was concerned that the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa were not consulting them prior to signing bills into law.
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has recommitted itself to the Government of National Unity (GNU), however, the party has warned it will no longer tolerate being "mere spectators" to the African National Congress (ANC).
The party held a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday to communicate the outcomes of its recent federal council meeting.
The DA’s national leadership is holding a media briefing to communicate outcomes from its recent Federal Council meeting.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 28, 2025
Federal Council is the DA’s highest decision making body structure in-between congress.
Briefing to focus on GNU and recent political developments. TCG pic.twitter.com/CtT0SSsmKH
John Steenhuisen, DA leader, said there is no longer consensus between the two biggest parties in GNU (DA & ANC).
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) January 28, 2025
Steenhuisen said this is the reason he wrote to ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa invoking Clause 19 of the Statement of Intent. TCG
The council is the DA's highest decision-making body in between congress.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said that the party was concerned that the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa were not consulting them prior to signing bills into law.
Steenhuisen said that the BELA and Expropriation acts were recent examples of this behaviour.
"We need to make sure the DA, as the second-largest party in the GNU, is allowed to express itself, allowed to put on the table alternatives and to work together to find consensus-making decisions within the GNU. If that is not possible, it makes future involvement in the GNU incredibly difficult to justify to our voters and the 3.5 million people who entrusted us with their votes in the last election."
ALSO READ:
• ANC's Mbalula defends Ramaphosa's decision to sign Expropriation Bill into law
• Steenhuisen: DA in GNU to share power, not to make up the numbers
• DA's Macpherson hits back at Mashatile in spat over Expropriation Act
• Stop making unilateral decisions, DA's Steenhuisen warns ANC after Expropriation Bill enacted
Get the whole picture 💡
Take a look at the topic timeline for all related articles.
Trending News
More in Politics
22 August 2025 17:20
Mayor Hill-Lewis believes CoCT's fixed charges are ideal for service delivery needs
22 August 2025 14:56
Parly’s budget office not forthcoming on guiding parties to amend national budget: Godongwana
22 August 2025 11:41
MPs split on use of classified info before committee probing allegations of police graft