By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula says that the Government of National Unity (GNU) would not collapse if the Democratic Alliance (DA) leaves, as other parties are ready to join, citing the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as a potential partner.
Mbalula made the remarks amid ongoing tensions within the GNU, sparked by the recent dismissal of Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister of the Trade, Industry and Competition.
He was speaking during the 3rd day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
Whitfield was removed from his post after undertaking an unauthorised international trip.
Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s dismissal of Whitfield, the DA announced it would remain part of the GNU.
Mbalula was speaking during the 3rd day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.
DA leader John Steenhuisen threw the ball back into Ramaphosa’s court, saying it was up to the ANC whether they wanted to kick the DA out of the national coalition.
“The ball is in the President’s court and the ANC’s court – if they want to take a strong stance against us and want to stop us [from] standing against corruption, well, they must fire us from the Government of National Unity (GNU), “he said.
This latest dispute within the GNU is just one of several that have emerged since its formation exactly a year ago.
Mbalula said the GNU is not a permanent feature but a temporary partnership among all the coalition parties.
Mbalula stated that the ANC and its President will not be bullied and disrespected by the DA and its leaders who continuously threaten to destabilse the GNU.
“When the Government of National Unity was formed with the ten political parties, it was not a permanent feature. So, we will not allow for our President to be disrespected by his deputy ministers.
“Even Nelson Mandela fired his own wife. My mother Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela Mandela. Mandela took him out of the cabinet.
Thabo Mbeki as president also did the same when he fired Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. We can’t then be disrespected by a small boy who is being protected by the DA. We are not in a marriage with the DA but we are in a coalition,” he said.
Mbalula said that those who had accused the ANC of selling out when it partnered with the DA in the GNU would soon realise that the ANC has an upper hand in the coalition.
“They must know one thing. We are not at the mercy of the DA. We are in this coalition because we respected the outcomes of the elections and the interests of the people of South Africa.
Meanwhile Fullview learnt that the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting should be the one that should decide to kick the DA out of the GNU as NEC members have called for the dismissal of the DA from the GNU after the latest impasse.