ANC’s Fikile Mbalula Gives Contradictory Messages About GNU’s Future amid Bickering Over VAT Increase

SIHLE MAVUSO|April 8, 2025

***CONTRADICTORY: ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has given contradicting messages regarding the future of the GNU. Photo: ANC***

The Secretary-General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, has given contradicting messages regarding the future of the government national unity (GNU) during a press conference in Johannesburg today.

Mbalula was addressing the media following the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), the governing party’s operational arms, which meets every fortnight.

The meeting discussed several issues including the impasse between the ANC and the DA over the budget that was passed last week with the inclusion of VAT increase. The DA opposed the budget and the ANC roped in ActionSA to pass it.

In one message, Mbalula said there would be a “reset” button after the impasse, but he later said the GNU is still intact as the ANC is committed to it and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is the final arbiter on the matter.

“The National Working Committee resolved that we will reset the button to engage with all the political parties in the GNU as well as those who are not in the GNU to address the impasse with regards to the budget.

“We intend to do that within a period of 5 days to conclude the period of negotiations on the budget. We are agreeing with a number of parties on a whole range of issues in relation to the budget, the only issue has been the question of VAT increase. The ANC will continue to drive consensus on key pillars of a developmental fiscal policy,” Mbalula said.

After that, he said the GNU is still intact until the ANC decides otherwise.

“The NEC adopted the position of the GNU and nothing have changed in relation to that. Should anything change in relation to the GNU, that would be the decision of the National Executive Committee. The NWC is navigating the process of the budget impasse in the context of the GNU,” he said.

Even during the questions and answers session with the media, Mbalula reiterated that nothing has changed with the GNU even though there are issues with the DA.

Mbalula also said they will engage with the DA to map a new way forward on how they would work together beyond the statement of intent which was signed when the GNU was formed.