ActionSA rules out joining GNU despite indications from its leader that it may consider it
On Tuesday, the party gave the GNU a scathing review of its first year in office, scoring it an overall 'e' for performance in categories such as getting the economy moving, creating jobs and improving service delivery.
ActionSA holds a press conference in Parliament to release its scorecard on the performance of the government of National Unity (GNU) after its first year in office. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - ActionSA has ruled out joining the Government of National Unity (GNU) despite indications from its leader just two months ago that it may consider it, if asked.
On Tuesday, the party gave the GNU a scathing review of its first year in office, scoring it an overall “e” for performance in categories such as getting the economy moving, creating jobs and improving service delivery.
ActionSA’s Parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, says if it backs the GNU in key votes such as the budget, it does not indicate the party’s desire to join the coalition pact.
The party says it doesn’t regret its decision a year ago to opt out of being part of the 10-party coalition that makes up the GNU.
Despite murmurings around the second iteration of the budget in March when Action SA supported the African National Congress (ANC) in getting the fiscal framework approved, Trollip says it was not a trade-off.
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“We made it quite clear to the ANC that we're petitioning our support that we don’t want any quid pro quo. We will support where we can. And we will oppose where we must.”
Trollip’s of the view that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have been a poor parliamentary opposition when compared to the standard set by the Democratic Alliance (da) in previous administrations.
And despite having only a fraction of their seats, Trollip believes ActionSA’s role is better in this capacity.
“We don’t want to be in the Government of National Unity. We are perfectly placed between a hegemonic GNU and a big, but hopeless opposition.”
Trollip says his party is mobilising support from other smaller opposition parties to support it on seminal legislation it’s introduced to the house.