Gwede Mantashe Says No Political Party Can Collapse the Government of National Unity

• The chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC), Gwede Mantashe, said in a television interview that no party has the power to collapse the Government of National Unity
• Mantashe made the comments after the Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Chair Helen Zille said the GNU would collapse if the DA withdrew from it
• The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources added the DA could leave the GNU, which would enable the ANC to invite other parties to join
• Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, Stellenbosch University's director of public leadership, spoke to Briefly News about stability in the GNU

With over seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, offered insights into South African politics, national, provincial and local governance, the Government of National Unity, political parties and Parliament.

JOHANNESBURG—The ANC chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, had a scathing reply for DA federal chair Helen Zille, who claimed the Government of National Unity would collapse should the DA leave.

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According to eNCA, Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, said the Democratic Alliance cannot collapse the GNU. This comes after Helen Zille claimed on Face The Nation on 3 December that the country's economy would collapse in a week under an ANC, EFF and MKP coalition if the DA pulls out of the GNU.

But Mantashe didn't share Zille's sentiments and said if the DA withdraws, it will create a space for the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters to join the GNU.

Will the EFF consider joining GNU?

In September, the ANCYL president, Collen Malatji, said the EFF should be reinvited to the GNU because Shivambu left the party.

Malatji called Shivambu a stumbling block and said because he did not like the ANC, the EFF could think of engaging the GNU again.

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Stellenbosch professor weighs in

Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, Stellenbosch University's director of public leadership, spoke to Briefly News about the dynamics in the GNU.

"The parties in the GNU have been at loggerheads on policy issues and other issues before the elections and were forced to work together by the desire to build an inclusive society that is working for the better of all in the country. If there is no coherent policy direction, the pack is likely to collapse," he said.

South Africans weigh in

Citizens on Facebook discussed their views on whether the DA could collapse the GNU by pulling out of it.

Aubrey Vukeya said:

"I agree with Gwede Mantashe on this one. No party can collapse the GNU. As South Africans, we can't be held ransom by corrupt, racist parties like the DA."

James Mefolo said:

"No one could collapse the ANC, but the opposition pulled it out of power. The next step is that the ANC will lose majority."

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Neo Molalogi said:

"He knows very well that he is lying."

Mahlobo Charles said:

"I think Mr Mantashe is trying to tell us that the ANC will not rise again."

Gayton McKenzie defends the GNU

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie defended the GNU.

He refuted claims that the GNU was a coalition between two parties and said it was the country's second miracle.

"The GNU is working better than what most of us expected, and most of its haters oped for. The GNU is our second miracle, and massive changes are being planned in furtherance of SA."

Source: Briefly News