Zille: DA not in GNU for perks, will carefully consider involvement in coalition

CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, has emphasised that her party was not in the Government of National Unity (GNU) for blue lights and would carefully consider its involvement in the coalition.

She said they were in the GNU for one sole purpose, which is to grow the economy to get more people employed.

Zille also said that discussions on the party's continued involvement in government were ongoing and only its federal executive would decide on the way forward.

ALSO READ:

- Zille defends DA's legal challenge against VAT hike, calls ActionSA proposal an 'illusion'

- Steenhuisen stands his ground as some political parties view DA as gone from GNU

- DA federal executive to decide on breakaway from GNU - Zille

Despite the DA’s High Court application to have the value-added tax (VAT) increase set aside, the party is not yet ready to announce its exit from the GNU.

On Thursday, Zille said that the DA's federal executive met for 90 minutes and began its discussions on the “current situation in relation to the budget, economic reform, the VAT increase, and the DA's position in the GNU”.

But she said the party’s ministers and deputy ministers weren’t desperate to be in government for the perks.

"We are not in the GNU for blue lights or cars, or ministerial homes, or status. We are in the GNU for one sole purpose and that is to get South Africa’s economy to grow at the rate it needs to grow."

While the fiscal framework and revenue proposals were adopted on Wednesday, the DA will continue its fight against the budget when members of Parliament (MPs) consider other money bills and taxation laws on Friday.