By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula has hit back at opposition parties saying that the party “sold out” by entering into a Government of National Unity (GNU) with neoliberal and colonial parties.
During a briefing on Saturday in Cape Town, Mbalula said the GNU criticism came from a place of either ignorance or political games.
“We know what we stand for. We know what the Democratic Alliance (DA) is and it’s not going to change us towards the DA,” said Mbalula.
“They rejected the GNU, but did not know what they wanted from us.”
The ANC’s 40% majority means it is leading the GNU which is neither a sellout nor a “melting pot” of ideologies, Mbalula said.
Mbalula said the ANC supported the administration’s programme which had adopted the six priorities outlined in the party’s manifesto.
“The ANC welcomes the immediate priorities identified by the President’s opening of Parliament address, which reflect the priorities identified in the ANC 2024 manifesto, to advance the building of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” Mbalula said.
“The three strategic priorities outlined by the President, respond to the most burning challenges facing our nation and its people.”
He said after 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made progress in building strong democratic institutions to meet basic needs, investing in people and transforming the economy. But the quality of basic services, the link between the people and government, crime and corruption, land and agrarian reforms and persistent and deep poverty, inequality and unemployment, remain a challenge which “requires urgent attention”.
“The national economy has stagnated in terms of economic expansion, economic transformation and inclusion, thus failing to produce the income and wealth distribution envisioned by the national democratic revolution. Persistent low rates of investment, deindustrialisation and relocation of industrial bases have all conspired to undermine the framework for sustainable employment creation in the country”, Mbalula said.
“These economic challenges have significantly hindered our progress towards achieving equitable and inclusive growth and development, the liberation of Africans in particular and black people in general, from political and economic bondage, uplifting the quality of life of all South Africans, especially the working class and poor”, he said.
He said all political parties had expressed consensus on the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality facing the country, during the parliamentary debate this week.
“Of course, given the ideological range represented in parliament, there will be disagreement represented in the colourful rhetoric and pretences we had yesterday, that some for their own survival and exposing their political bankruptcy, want to present the ANC as having sold out the people”, Mbalula said, referring to EFF leader Julius Malema’s and MK Party Chief Whip John Hlope’s accusation in parliament that president Cyril Ramaphosa had sold out the people.
“The ANC will speak for itself when their own ethno-nationalism, backwardness and inconsistency constitute the betrayal of the people, even during the sixth administration, they consistently voted with the party they now despise against progressive policies introduced by the African National Congress”, Mbalula said.
“On the other extreme of the spectrum of liberal conservatism there are those with us who cannot deny the moral and just cause of redress, as set out by the Constitution …and yet they continue to want to cling to their privileges, to deny universal health coverage to the majority and to prevent our schools from providing equal opportunities to all”, Mbalula said.
He said despite setbacks, the ANC was “unfaltering” in its mission to build a democratic society through “social and economic transformation”.
“It is for these reasons, having resolved on the option of a government of national unity as the least risky option, we ensured that the minimum program of the government of national unity and the seventh administration reflected the priorities of the ANC manifesto. All 10 parties who signed the statement of intent committed themselves to this minimum program, “Mbalula said.
These six priorities outlined in the ANC manifesto include to: drive inclusive growth and job creation, reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, build a capable, ethical and developmental state, invest in people by meeting basic needs, including investing in education and improving health outcomes and service delivery, defend democracy and advance freedom, and building a better Africa and world.
Mbalula said there should be no surprise that the government’s programme was in line with the ANC manifesto as it is leading the GNU with its 40% majority rather than being a “sell out” as claimed by Malema and Hlope. But there would still be dissent from within the GNU.
“The government of national unity is not a melting pot wherein everybody is going to agree with what we do. Do you think that the DA opposition to the Bela Bill as well as NHI is going to stop because they are in the government of national unity? But the fact of the matter is that we use the six million votes that we’ve got to proceed to implement these policies within the GNU,’ Mbalula said.
He said what they want through the GNU, which is the mandate of the people, is stability. The GNU is not cast in stone and if people want to leave they can, he said. This does not mean it will collapse.