The DA’s firm stance against the budget, along with their participation in the parliamentary vote against it, has put them at odds with their coalition partners.
Image: Se-Anne Rall / IOL
Pule Makgale
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has taken the lead in urging the Democratic Alliance (DA) to reconsider its position within the Government of National Unity (GNU) following their dramatic refusal to vote in favour of the 2025 national budget.
The budget, which included a controversial VAT increase, has deeply divided the coalition, with Mashatile at the forefront of those advocating for the DA’s exit. Mashatile’s remarks came during a candid discussion at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation's business breakfast in Illovo on Monday, where he voiced his frustration with DA Cabinet members who, despite rejecting the Budget, continued to serve as ministers within the coalition government.
“I can see some of them are working today, they are going around, acting as if nothing has happened. I would be ashamed to do that,” Mashatile said, making his position clear. “You run to work as a minister, yet you did not vote for the budget. But do you think it’s okay? I am not sure what they are thinking,” he added.
His comments underscore the growing discontent within the ANC regarding the DA's continued involvement in the GNU despite its opposition to the VAT increase. The increase has been particularly contentious, with critics arguing that it will disproportionately affect South Africa’s poorest citizens. The DA’s firm stance against the Budget, along with their participation in the parliamentary vote against it, has put them at odds with their coalition partners.
The party’s decision to vote against the Budget, claiming it would further burden the poor, has escalated tensions within the GNU. Mashatile’s sentiments are echoed by a faction within the ANC, which is now pushing for the DA to exit the GNU.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANC convened yesterday to discuss the future of the coalition, and sources suggest that the reconfiguration of the GNU is on the table, with some advocating punitive measures against parties that fail to align with the coalition’s policies.
However, Mashatile is not solely focused on internal ANC discussions. He has extended to warning the DA about the potential consequences of their actions. “The top seven is meeting to decide. It is not for me to decide,” Mashatile remarked, signaling that the fate of the DA in the coalition is largely in the hands of the ANC’s senior leadership.
The situation has been further complicated by the intervention of major business sectors, who have attempted to mediate to try to preserve the stability of the GNU.
Business leaders are concerned that any disruption to the coalition could have detrimental effects on the economy, which is already struggling under the weight of the VAT increase and other fiscal challenges.
Despite these interventions, the tensions within the coalition remain high, and the DA’s future in the GNU hangs in the balance. The ANC’s frustration is rooted in the DA’s lack of support for a key revenue-generating measure, which they see as essential for addressing South Africa’s financial crisis.
As the ANC continues to push for the DA to reconsider its position, Mashatile's leadership in navigating these internal dynamics will be crucial in determining whether the DA stays or exits the GNU.
The DA has not made a final decision regarding its continued involvement in the coalition. DA leader John Steenhuisen has confirmed that the party is still deliberating on whether to remain in the GNU, with some members pushing for the DA to distance itself entirely from the coalition in light of their opposition to the VAT increase.
However, the party’s exit could have significant political consequences, leaving the GNU in a precarious position as it seeks to maintain its fragile unity.