DA opposes GNU expansion

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has said that expanding the Government of National Unity (GNU) will not help the coalition’s ambitions in the future.

Steenhuisen responded to questions about the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) recent decision to expand the coalition bloc at a DA press conference on Monday.

This follows a decision by the ANC’s National Executive Committee to engage with parties about joining the GNU to expand its strategic objectives.

However, Steenhuisen, whose party currently makes up just over 30% of the GNU, argues that the coalition should instead focus on improving the parties’ working relationships and ability to communicate effectively within the bloc.

“I don’t believe expanding the GNU will help it going forward. We already have 10 parties in the GNU. It’s one of the largest coalitions in the world,” Steenhuisen said.

“I think more energy and focus should be spent on improving the relations amongst parties within the GNU.”

The DA leader said the parties should be able to have open and honest discussions with one another without these “leading to blowouts every single time.”

Upon making the announcement, the ANC said that it would begin consulting parties currently in the GNU.

“In line with the statement of intent, we will first begin our engagements with the parties currently who are part of the GNU with regard to seeing the extent to which we can expand,” said ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This is to “advance the GNU with other parties that see themselves supporting the objectives we set out in the statement of intent,” he added.

Steenhuisen says the party has not consulted about the ANC’s plans to expand the GNU. However, when the ANC does so, the DA will express these views, which it says are shared by several other partner parties.

The DA and ANC currently comprise 85% of the coalition, holding 246 seats in the National Assembly. The remaining eight parties hold 41 seats.

These parties include the Patriotic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Inkhatha Freedom Party, United Democratic Movement, Rise Mzansi, Al Jama-ah, GOOD, and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania.

State finances tested the “toxic marriage”

The BBC has described the relationship between the GNU’s most prominent members as a “toxic marriage.” Neither wants to leave, given the risk of electoral punishment, economic instability, and loss of influence.

These “blowouts” alluded to by Steenhuisen are often caused by the deep policy and ideological differences between the two parties, which have put strain on the coalition.

An example of these blowouts was the 2025 budget process, during which the DA firmly opposed the ANC’s proposed VAT increase.

This opposition by the DA saw the ANC need to venture outside the coalition to get the Bill through in Parliament.

President Cyril Ramaphosa commented on the process, saying that it “taught [the ANC] many lessons, including how to build tactical and issue-based voting alliances with other parties.”

“We welcome the cooperation on the Budget, including with parties not part of the GNU,” he added.

The parties that assisted the ANC during the process were ActionSA, the National Coloured Congress, and Build One South Africa (Bosa).

However, these parties have made their stances clear about joining the GNU, with NCC leader Fadiel Adams saying that they will not enter a GNU with the DA because of its regressive policies.

On the other hand, ActionSA chairperson Michael Beaumont said that these “considerations will be based on whether our involvement will bring about the much-needed reforms.” 

Bosa leader Mmusi Maimane argues that talks with the ANC about joining the coalition would depend on the GNU’s reform agenda.