Another GNU partner withdraws from the National Dialogue

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has announced that it would not partake in the upcoming National Dialogue, saying that the African National Congress (ANC) has made “it impossible to participate.”

This makes it the second Government of National Unity (GNU) coalition partner to withdraw from the dialogue starting 15 August.

VF Plus leader Dr Corné Mulder said in a statement on 12 August that while the party supports dialogue, the ANC, as the largest party in the GNU, “is not ready to have a genuine, reasoned and solution-oriented dialogue.”

Last week, following the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said that the party will not compromise on its economic or foreign policies.

“We will still pursue redress; we are not equal in this economy. This economy is still male white dominated and you want to tell us to abandon policies that seek to advance transformation,” said Mbalula.

Mulder, whose party ammased just over 455,000 votes in the 2024 general elections, said that as long as the ANC does not compromise, it should not be part of the conversation.

“A political party with such a mindset and approach cannot act as a credible facilitator for the Presidency or a participant in a national dialogue.”

He said that the results of the 2024 general elections, where the ANC amassed 40% of the vote, show “that voters have lost confidence in the ANC and are no longer willing to trust the ANC to govern alone.”

“The root causes of South Africa’s economic decline are no secret; failed ANC policies such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), expropriation without compensation and other race-based legislation.”

Mulder said “corruption and cadre deployment… these have destroyed state institutions and municipalities,” while the ANC’s “ideologically driven foreign policy” had led to 30% US trade tariffs.

Mulder called for “honest” talks involving those “serious about progress… without the ANC,” adding that investor confidence required “a realistic free-market policy” and a focus on merit over “outdated ideologies and political agendas.”

Mulder recently said in an interview with State of the Nation that the dialogue, initially meant to forge a shared GNU policy framework, is now “not the one” envisioned.

National Dialogue troubles

This marks the second GNU partner to exit the dialogue.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), making up around 30% of the GNU bloc, has withdrawn from the upcoming, calling its cost “an obscene waste” and vowing to mobilise against it.

In a press briefing on 11 August, DA leader and agriculture minister John Steenhuisen called it “one-sided,” saying that the party was never approached for the organisation and conceptualisation it.

“We felt that it was being abused as a political process by the ANC, to try and reconnect with the voter base after the past elections,” said Steenhuisen.

He called it a “talk shop with no action, no reform, no plan, and by the looks of things, dwindling support with the announcement of further withdrawals from major foundations in South Africa”.

Several prominent foundations, including those of Steve Biko, Thabo Mbeki, Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk, have also pulled out of the Preparatory Task Team, citing inadequate funding and rushed planning.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed “regret” at their departure but insisted the ‘necessity’ of it going ahead to have a common agenda.

He said the first National Convention will go ahead on 15 August with 200 organisations from 33 sectors.

The Presidency says it is cutting costs, with UNISA providing venues at no charge and additional funding to be finalised.