Johannesburg: South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) party has formally declared a dispute with the Government of National Unity (GNU), accusing it of sidelining coalition partners on critical legislation concerning health and land expropriation. The announcement on Saturday has spotlighted growing tensions within the coalition government.
The DA, the second-largest party after the African National Congress (ANC), emphasized that it remains committed to the coalition but insists that relations must be recalibrated. These disputes center on longstanding points of contention.
“We have declared a dispute, and it’s up to the leaders of the parties (in the coalition) to decide how to move forward,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said during a news briefing. He further criticized the ANC’s approach, stating, “The president needs to accept that his party is now just another minority party, and that the DA are partners in the GNU. The DA will not, under any circumstances, be reduced to being mere spectators.”
ANC’s Response and Commitment to Transformation
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC, while acknowledging the dispute, expressed readiness to engage with coalition partners. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula reiterated the party’s commitment to its agenda.
“The ANC will not change in its path in transforming South Africa. We will persist with the transformation agenda. But we are ready to engage, including with the DA on these particular matters,” Mbalula said at the same briefing.
The GNU, formed last year after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority, has faced challenges in maintaining unity among its diverse coalition members.
Key Points of Disagreement
The DA has strongly opposed the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill, which seeks to provide universal healthcare through a comprehensive restructuring of South Africa’s dual health system. Despite significant opposition, the government has pressed ahead with implementing the bill.
Another major flashpoint is the recent enactment of a land expropriation bill. On Thursday, President Ramaphosa signed the bill into law, enabling the state to expropriate land in the public interest more easily. The DA has labeled the legislation unconstitutional. “I have written to President Ramaphosa to express our objections to this bill,” Steenhuisen said.
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In response, Mbalula noted that the DA was aware of the bill before it was enacted and encouraged legal challenges if the party believes the law is unlawful. “If there is something unlawful in terms of signing of this act, it can be ventilated in the courts and any terrains that are applicable to those who don’t approve rather than to bring the GNU in this particular matter,” he said.
Broader Coalition Concerns
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the coalition’s third-largest member, has also raised objections to the land expropriation bill, further underscoring the strains within the GNU. The IFP’s stance adds weight to the challenges faced by the government in navigating complex coalition dynamics.
