Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen says the party has not yet decided whether it will remain in the Government of National Unity following the contentious budget vote earlier this week.
“Whether we stay in the GNU or not is a matter for the federal executive to decide,” Steenhuisen told media in Phoenix during the party’s campaign activities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Steenhuisen confirmed that while the DA’s Federal Executive has held initial meetings over Thursday and Friday, no final decision has been reached. “The FedEx will continue to meet and assess the current situation,” he said.
The uncertainty follows the ANC-led government’s passage of the 2025 National Budget without the DA’s support, relying instead on smaller parties both within and outside the GNU coalition.
In response to the budget’s approval, the DA has filed court papers challenging its passage, arguing the process was procedurally flawed.
Steenhuisen revealed he has received correspondence from business leaders expressing concerns about South Africa’s stability if the GNU collapses, potentially resulting in a minority government.
“There could be a minority government that would function from parliamentary sitting to parliamentary sitting, with uncertainty about whether there is a majority,” he warned. “That’s no way to run a government. We need to ensure that whatever we’re doing is in the best interest of the country.”
Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has sharply criticized the DA’s position, calling the party “arrogant and disrespectful” during an ANC event in Diepsloot on Friday.
“The ball is in the DA’s court. They’ve chosen their path, and they must analyse and decide on the implications,” Mbalula stated. “If you say you don’t want a budget at all costs, you walk, and nobody said you must walk. It cannot be our burden.”
Political analysts note that the budget dispute represents the most significant test yet for the nine-month-old power-sharing arrangement, with the DA controlling six key government ministries including Agriculture, Home Affairs, and Education.
