The Government of National Unity (GNU) marked over a 100 days in office since its formulation following the May 29 elections. While the GNU has been hailed by many, it also has come with criticism from South Africans, political analysts and politicians. Picture: X/South African Government
The Government of National Unity (GNU) marked over a 100 days in office last weekend.
Formed by a multi-coalition of 10 parties following the May elections, which includes long time arch-enemies the ANC and DA, the GNU made quite a shift in South Africa’s political landscape.
With the ANC failing to retain an outright majority vote, many did not expect this new government for the seventh administration.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in June that the country will be going into a GNU after the outcomes of the ANC’s senior executive lekgotla at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni.
Some people were sceptical, while others were optimistic.
Ramaphosa said the GNU was the best path for South Africa’s economy, which would achieve mass job creation, economic stability and non-racialism.
Presiding the opposition benches, ActionSA Parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, criticised the GNU, calling it a grand coalition government.
He told The Star that there was no vast difference between the sixth administration and current government, citing that citizens continued to grapple with unemployment, rampant crime and high cost of living.
“Apart from the fact that the current grand coalition government includes ministers and deputy ministers from former opposition parties, there is no particularly vast difference. However, this is the largest Cabinet ever set to cost taxpayers over a billion rand each year,” said Trollip.
Despite Trollip’s sentiments, political analyst Nonhlanhla Masuku hailed the multi-party government’s milestones these past few months shortly after its inception.
Masuku said the absence of load shedding from the beginning of the year is a notable achievement, “reflecting improved management and co-operation within the GNU,” she said.
However, she noted it was too early to predict whether the GNU would maintain a successful tenure, ensuring stability in the next five years.
“While these early successes are promising, it is still too early to predict the long-term stability and effectiveness of the GNU. Continued progress will depend on maintaining unity and addressing systemic issues,” said Masuku.
The power sharing government has shown a few strides in these 100 days.
The Department of Home Affairs has not only proposed digitising the ministry, but it managed to expose a number of scandals pertaining to the validity of Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenry.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube stopped a National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) contract worth R9.8 billion.
Before the contract was under investigation following allegations of corruption, it would have fed learners in schools under a single provider.
The NSNP is a feeding scheme for learners in indigent schools.
The elated Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, cut sponsorship for overseas trips of sports superfans, as talented athletes and artists continued to encounter funding difficulties.
McKenzie dropped files on X, revealing the names of local artists who slyly received Covid-19 grants from the Sports Ministry.
Among other achievements, Gwarube and McKenzie recently teamed up to bring back sports and arts in South African public schools.
The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding, noting it is set to benefit over 13 million learners, ensuring equal access to sporting opportunities for underprivileged schools.
The formation of the GNU saw the emergence of the Progressive Caucus led by the EFF and African Transformation Movement (ATM).
The caucus unashamedly criticised the ANC for partnering with the “racist” DA.
The UDM and Al Jama-ah soon ditched Progressive Caucus, joining the GNU.
However, the DA boasted that the markets were confident when it joined the power sharing government.
Agriculture Minister and DA leader, John Steenhuisen, said: “While there are significant global factors at play, we must recognise the positive impact of the GNU’s policy agenda, of which the DA is a key driver. A stronger currency and lower inflation are tangible results of this, paving the way for the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) to shift focus from controlling inflation to stimulating growth.”
According to an article by The Star, party spokesperson Willie Aucamp said the DA’s entry in the GNU had attracted international investors.
“Ninety-five percent of foreign investors are looking to increase their exposure to South Africa, with 30% of these planning to do so within the next three months. The surge in the rand is a clear indicator that international markets are responding positively to the DA’s role in promoting economic stability and growth,” he said.
Masuku concurred with the former opposition party, saying an ANC-DA marriage stabilised the economy.
“The DA’s participation in the GNU has contributed to market stability, reflecting investor confidence in the coalition’s governance. The GNU’s success in stabilising markets highlights the pragmatic co-operation between the ANC and DA,” she said.
Speaking to the SABC, political economist Duma Gqubule argued these words.
“According to my modelling, the number of unemployed people is going to increase by two million to 14.4 million by the end of this administration. At the same time unemployment will increase by 44.6%,” he said.
He emphasised the GNU is an ANC government, which repeats the same economic policies that failed over the past 15 years with different people.
With many comparing this year’s elections to the 1994 democratic polls, Trollip said the ANC losing the election was inevitable.
“South Africans made a reality, primarily in recognition that the ANC’s majoritarian misgovernance could no longer continue. Voters exercised their right to express their dissatisfaction,” he said.
Masuku added the GNU was a wake-up call for the ANC to fix in-house corruption.
“The increased accountability the GNU brings serves as a wake-up call for the ANC to address its corruption issues. The coalition’s diverse oversight mechanisms and the need for consensus have pressured the ANC to implement reforms and improve governance standards,” she said.
Citing Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s corruption saga, Trollip reiterated the GNU failed to expose the ANC’s corruption woes.
“The ANC’s tendency to foster corruption and shield those implicated is perhaps the one thing South Africans can agree on with remarkable consistency. The Justice Minister embroiled in a scandal with potential corrupt and unethical undertones is reminiscent of the Phala Phala saga and long list of scandals the ANC has become synonymous with,” he said.
He demanded Simelane be held accountable.
The minister is facing allegations of financial misconduct after she took a more than R500 000 loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions in 2016.
Gundo Wealth Solutions is found to be linked with defunct and scandalous VBS Mutual Bank.
Masuku believed otherwise, saying the GNU has thus far, increased transparency by officials.
“The GNU has indeed brought greater scrutiny to the ANC’s practices, exposing unethical behaviour and corruption within the party. The coalition’s diverse composition has increased accountability and transparency, compelling the ANC to address these issues more rigorously,” said Masuku.