By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The leaders of the parties represented in South Africa’s coalition government met to reflect on progress in implementing the priorities identified in the GNU’s Statement of Intent, discuss national and international issues, and address critical challenges facing the country.
In the 2024 general elections, ANC lost its three-decade-long majority, receiving 40% of the vote. It formed a coalition, or ‘GNU’, with the DA, IFP, PA, VF Plus, GOOD, Rise Mzansi, PAC, UDM, and Al Jama-ah.
Together, they occupy 287 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly.
However, some parties within the GNU have complained about the ANC’s dismissive nature to the ideas, inputs and concerns of their coalition partners, arguing that they govern as if they have a majority.
In particular, the tensions have been simmering for a while between the ANC and DA, despite efforts on both sides to keep the GNU together.
In a joint media statement, the 10 parties said the leaders were unanimous that the GNU “is united and strong.”
“The meeting agreed that this forum of party leaders would meet regularly to provide strategic political direction to the work of the GNU.”
The statement acknowledged difficulties in the functioning of the GNU, most notably around the 2025 budget process.
“However, it has drawn important lessons from these experiences and will ensure more effective consultation in developing fiscal priorities and frameworks.”
“All parties reaffirmed their full commitment to the GNU as a reflection of the will of voters as an instrument to advance the interests of all South Africans.”
The leaders said that over the 16 months since signing the Statement of Intent, the GNU has provided stability and leadership to the country.
“It remains focused on resolving the concerns of the South African people: unemployment, poverty, the cost of living, crime, corruption and delivery of services.”
They added that the GNU has successfully brought together parties from different political traditions to pursue a common programme aimed at driving inclusive growth and job creation, tackling poverty and the cost of living, and building a capable developmental state.
“Guided by the basic minimum programme of priorities contained in the Statement of Intent, the GNU has adopted the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) as a transformative vision and programme for the five years of this administration.”
The MTDP had been aligned to the GNU’s apex priorities for the seventh administration of growth and job creation, poverty reduction and the building of a capable State.
The growth target, which would represent a significant improvement on the country’s recent GDP performance and even the National Treasury’s growth outlook, had been informed by a modelling of the growth upside from the economic reforms under way in energy and
The GNU’s unity will be tested by upcoming budgets and elections. For now, the retreat’s outcomes offer hope for collaborative progress in tackling the nation’s pressing issues.