Bickering Erupts In Government of National Unity As ANC, PA, And DA Clash Over Leadership

The Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa is already facing internal strife. Even before cabinet posts have been allocated, tensions are rising among the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

The discord primarily revolves around accusations of opportunism and narcissism against the DA’s federal chair, Helen Zille.

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The PA, led by Gayton McKenzie, has accused Zille of ‘seeking attention’ and exhibiting narcissistic tendencies.

PA’s head of strategy, Charles Cilliers, went as far as calling Zille ‘delusional’ for her assertion that the ANC could not include other parties in the GNU without DA’s consent. According to Cilliers, the statement of intent signed by the ANC, DA, and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is merely a precursor to the actual establishment of the GNU.

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Mdumiseni Ntuli, the ANC’s new chief whip, criticized the DA for being opportunistic. He emphasized that the ANC is the primary leader of the GNU and that there is no requirement for the ANC to consult the DA before inviting other parties.

Ntuli labelled Zille’s statements as ‘misguided’ and stressed that the DA should stop considering itself the founder or leader of the GNU.

Political economy analyst Daniel Silke warned that if the GNU partners continue to pull in different directions, it could jeopardize the entire initiative.

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Silke pointed out that maintaining a centrist alliance amid these challenges is crucial. Failure to do so could cause a significant pivot in the opposite direction, posing a severe threat to the stability of the GNU.

As the GNU faces its initial hurdles, the discord among the ANC, PA, and DA raises questions about the future of this coalition. The coming weeks will be pivotal in determining whether these parties can work together in good faith or if the GNU will falter before it even begins.

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