African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of using the controversial 0.5% value-added tax (VAT) increase as a tool for political grandstanding.
The VAT proposal has become a major sticking point between the two parties, after the DA refused to support the adoption of the fiscal framework in Parliament earlier this week.
According to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the DA had initially agreed to back the VAT increase on the condition that the Exportation Act be scrapped — a deal that ultimately fell through. Mbalula said this proves the DA is not negotiating in good faith.
“The arrogance of the DA needs to be tamed,” Mbalula said. “They’re arrogant and disrespectful. Winning is all that matters to them. You can’t find solutions through grandstanding — and that’s what the DA has done so far.”
ActionSA Emerges as Possible GNU Partner
Amid growing tensions with the DA, the ANC has not ruled out the possibility of ActionSA joining the Government of National Unity (GNU). With the DA’s refusal to support key economic policies casting doubt on its place in the coalition, ActionSA has signaled it would be open to stepping in.
“We are not going to be fooled by the ANC,” ActionSA leader Athol Trollip recently warned — but the party’s founder, Herman Mashaba, appears to be taking a more diplomatic tone.
Mbalula confirmed that initial discussions with ActionSA have already taken place. “We’ve had a very decent and constructive engagement with ActionSA,” he said. “They’ve shown they genuinely care about the country — not about positions — and that’s what matters most to us moving forward.”
