ANC NEC welcomes 'reset' of GNU after productive leaders' retreat

The ANCs national executive has welcomed the reset of the government of national unity following a recent political leaders’ retreat to redefine the GNUs key focus areas.

From a time when many in the ANC wanted the party to sever ties with the da over policy differences, it now says the GNU is necessary to maintain political order.

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the national executive committee took stock of the GNU’s performance at its meeting over the weekend.

Mbalula said the GNU is critical to maintaining political stability and preventing those whom he termed as having anti-democratic tendencies from impacting democracy.

But he said the party’s national executive is clear, stability can’t come at the expense of transformation seemingly a dig at the da with whom the ANC regularly clashes with on the subject.

The GNU is not a marketplace where the rights, dignity and aspirations of the majority can be traded, diluted or negotiated away. It is a contested site of struggle in which the strategic leadership of the ANC is critical.

Mbalula said for the ANC resetting the button on the GNU after 17 months does not mean the ten parties will agree on all matters.

" it does not mean that the da in the gnu will change to become anc. Or the ANC will change to become the da in the gnu. The ANC will never change in the transformation that we believe in," said Mbalula.

Mbalula added that the ANC will continuously assess its coalition partners based on the statement of intent that has sealed their partnership.

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