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It seems like the honeymoon phase of the Government of National Unity (GNU) is over, the glue holding it together has lost its strength, seven months in, cracks are widening and the centre is crumbling.
It was a given that the fall of the GNU will be due to differences in political ideology between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and African National Congress (ANC), the two are diametrically opposed to each other but they however entered into the marriage of convenience without considering if they are compatible.
First it was the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, then the BELA Bill and now the Land Expropriation Bill; it is clear that the ANC will push its agenda irrespective on how the other spouse feels. The liberation is party is also under immense pressure from its constituency and the majority to delivery on its promises to return land to the rightful owners, to bring about economic freedom and empowerment to the previously disadvantaged.
Doing this will however be a challenging task as they share power with a party that represents the right, a party that subscribes to capitalism and is for the minority; the political ideologies are begging to rear their ugly heads and it seems like the statement of intent is being ignored.
The DA has expressed its dissatisfaction with the ANC and the manner in which it operates, the Leader, John Steenhuisen has told the country that the President, Cyril Ramaphosa has been ignoring the DA’s inputs in some of these pressing matters, instead, his letters would be shifted off to other piles of documents and not treated with urgency they deserve.
A number of things make one wonder when you hear of such, could it be that the DA feels entitled to special treatment intrinsic to it and the ANC is trying to treat them like any other party? Or could it be that, the ANC used the DA to get the numbers to stay in power in a GNU and does not really consider the DA as a partner?
Steenhuisen says the ANC is attempting to reduce them to door mat status, but they are not the kind of party to be spectators. Like ordinary South Africans, they found out about some of the decisions made on the bills in question in the media, they are not being consulted but pushed on the side-lines.
Clearly there is some serious unhappiness in this marriage, and the DA has threatened to consider their next step should this continue, it seems like they do not have any influence on decision making within the GNU; furthermore, Ramaphosa said the ANC will not be deterred from implementing its agenda just because it is in a GNU with the DA.
One could read into this statement as a defiant response to the complains of the DA and a statement that reminds the DA that the ANC is in charge, not them.
Will this GNU grumble before its expiry date of two years as the doomsayers predicted? Will the DA finally gather enough strength to walk out of the GNU or will they stay and press on? It remains to be seen.
