By 
Once again, ideological and policy difference within the Government of National Unity (GNU) shows its ugly head as the Democratic Alliance (DA) speaks in discord regarding the Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy of the African National Congress (ANC).
The Leader of the DA Mr John Steenhuisen says the DA rejects the protection of the BEE policy by President H.E Cyril Ramaphosa during his reply to the State of the Nation (SONA) debate on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
Steenhuisen took a shot at the policy saying it only benefits the politically connected elite at the expense of the poor. Instead, he said the DA will be pushing for an all-inclusive economic policy that will empower everyone.
Pointing to the flaws of BEE, Steenhuisen says the DA will continue to fight for an alternative economic empowering policy, which is why they the DA has tabled the Economic Inclusion for All Bill. He said they will relentlessly pursue the replacement of BEE with policy that truly focuses on addressing poverty.
“South Africa stands at a critical juncture. There are encouraging signs of stabilisation under the Government of National Unity, including improving economic fundamentals and renewed investor confidence. Most recently the Quarterly Labour Survey reflected employment gains in certain sectors and Provinces (most notably Western Cape). This progress reflects the value of cooperation, reform pressure, and the injection of competence into government.
However, stability is not the same as prosperity. The gains are slow and are not felt evenly. South Africans are still living with severe unemployment, crime, failing municipalities, and economic growth that is far below what is required to create jobs at scale,” said John Steenhuisen.
“The DA remains committed to the Government of National Unity because it is helping to stabilise South Africa after years of governance failure, and because it serves as a bulwark against instability and extremist policy alternatives.
But participation in the GNU does not mean passive support. It means driving reform from within, fighting corruption, and holding the executive accountable where urgency is lacking. Where the President’s Reply reaffirmed reform, we welcome it. Where it fell short of decisive action, we will continue to push for faster implementation,” he added.
According to Steenhuisen, the key test following the SONA and the President’s Reply is whether government will accelerate structural reforms that unlock growth and jobs.
He said the DA has consistently called for urgent reforms including:
• Improving our ports and rail through accelerated private concessions
• Ending cadre deployment and enforcing merit-based appointments
• Accelerating energy market reform and the unbundling of Eskom
• Pro-investment policy certainty. For example BEE must be replaced by an alternative that address poverty, not race, such as the DA’s Economic Inclusion for All Bill, to attract capital and create jobs
“These are practical economic reforms, not ideological positions, and they are essential to achieving sustained growth. We have begun to turn a corner, but turning the corner is not the destination.
South Africans need faster growth, safer communities, functional municipalities, and a government that delivers tangible improvements in their daily lives. The DA will continue to use its position in the GNU and in Parliament to push for faster, bolder reform so that South Africa moves beyond stabilisation and onto a path of sustained growth, job creation, and opportunity for all,” concluded the DA Leader John Steenhuisen.
