As GNU talks take centre stage, Mashatile says DA Cabinet ministers not doing themselves any favours

JOHANNESBURG - Deputy President Paul Mashatile said that Democratic Alliance (DA) Cabinet ministers who showed up for work on Monday were not doing themselves any favours as Government of National Unity (GNU) talks take centre stage again.

The future of the DA in the GNU hangs in the balance following their opposition to last week's budget vote.

The African National Congress (ANC)'s national working committee will meet on Monday to decide on whether to keep the current composition of the GNU or change it.

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Mashatile made the comments during an engagement with thought leaders and industry professionals at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation business breakfast in Illovo on Monday morning.

The decision by the DA and Freedom Front Plus not to support the budget in the National Assembly last week continued to pull at an outfit already hanging by the thread.

Some in the ANC are said to be calling for the two parties to be punished for failing to toe the GNU line.

But it has also since emerged that big business has tried to intervene to keep the GNU intact.

Although a decision has not been made, Mashatile said the DA was forewarned of the consequences.

"Before we went to Parliament, the president said to Mr Steenhuisen: 'If you don’t vote for this budget, you are defining yourself outside the GNU.'"

Mashatile said that the DA Cabinet ministers who show up for work on Tuesday are disengenuous.

"I can see some of them are still working today as ministers, going around. I would be ashamed to do that because where does the budget come from? You're working as a minister but you did not vote for the budget, but you think it’s OK, you're going to work. I'm not sure what they are thinking."

The future of the GNU is likely to be clearer after the ANC's NWC meeting on Monday.