By The Government of National Unity (GNU) has its advantages, especially towards the economy of the country and investor confidence; but it eliminates opposition which healthy for South African politics and some of the corruption may be swept under the carpet of power.
Parties composing the GNU may find themselves a little compromised in holding each other accountable, while they try to find their footing, there are some matters of public interest that need attention and for the opposition to hold the culprits to account.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the official opposition party in South Africa; it is the second largest party and is now part of the GNU holding key positions in the executive and in parliament. The DA is especially known for its loudness when it comes to corruption and ensuring that the ruling party is held to account for its wrong-doings.
During the parliamentary debate following the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the DA Leader and Minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen delivered a rather tamed speech; he spoke about the ills within government but could not, as usual name the ANC out-rightly as the culprit.
Though he mentioned the ANC only once, it was in relation to the recent provincial and national elections where the ANC lost its majority support forcing a GNU. Steenhuisen never mentioned the ANC in relation to corruption, he spoke about the weak performing economy over the years and said it was due to political forces that are intent to break up rather than build; but failed to mention that this happened under the watch of the ANC.
The speech or debate, lacked the brutality that the DA usually exhibits towards maladministration, corruption and incompetence, instead, the debate was a confirmation of his party’s allegiance to the ANC.
For the first time in the history of South Africa, at least since the advent of democracy, the DA, the official opposition party was clapping and cheering and was visibly happy with Ramaphosa’s speech. An indication that they are now marching in the same direction with the ANC.
Earlier on, the DA changed its tone towards the Phala-phala matter saying it is of no significance compared to the VBS matter, they would rather focus their energies on rebuilding the economy of the country and deal with the crooks who stole money from the elderly at VBS.
The opposition role is now left to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party MKP and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the rest of the progressive caucus, but they are out-numbered in parliament and the ANC and Ramaphosa will now enjoy the protection of the DA, PA, UDM and all other parties who are part of the GNU.
The seventh administration will see a tamed and compromised DA that defends the ANC and Cyril Ramaphosa in exchanged of power. Even though they are in the same bed now, there are fundamentals that the parties composing the GNU do not see eye to eye with, and these cannot be ignored or side-lined indefinitely, at some point, they will have to face up to the ideologies and it remains to be seen if that will break the GNU or not.
