Freedom Front Plus Objects to ANC’s Plans to Expand GNU, South Africans Share Mixed Reactions

• The Freedom Front (FF) Plus will not support any plans by the African National Congress to expand the coalition
• The ANC needs more like-minded parties in the Government of National Unity so it could pass any legislation
• South Africans shared their thoughts online about the ANC's plans and the objection to it by the FF Plus

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – The Freedom Front (FF) Plus will not support any plans to expand the Government of National Unity.

That’s the position of party leader, Corné Mulder, who said that his party would oppose the inclusion of more political parties in the coalition government.

Following a recent meeting of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC), President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that the party would begin engagements with GNU members to see how it could expand the coalition government with parties currently outside it.

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The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are two parties outside the GNU that haven’t seen eye to eye with the ANC, but the National Coloured Congress (NCC), ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA) have voted with the ANC to pass the budget despite not being coalition members.

Why will the FF Plus object?

During an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times, Mulder said that it was clear that the ANC were trying to ensure it would still have the numbers to pass legislation, even if it didn’t have the support of the Democratic Alliance or FF Plus.

“It is obvious that the only reason for this initiative by the ANC NEC is to safeguard the position of the ANC. It’s a case of anything to stay in power. To bring in other parties now is clearly to pre-empt the result if some current parties leave the GNU,” he stated.

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He added that the ANC still acted as if it governed alone, which led to some of the disagreements over legislature and why there was the current economic and foreign policy chaos that led to the 30% tariffs from the United States of America.

Why does the ANC need more votes?

The National Assembly has 400 members who vote in Parliament, with 200 or more votes being needed to pass anything. Without the support of the DA and FF Plus, the remaining GNU partners only account for 192 votes, meaning that the ANC would need outside support to pass anything.

This was what happened with the budget when the FF Plus and DA’s refusal to support it meant that the ANC had to approach parties outside of the coalition for support. By bringing in other parties, the ANC would effectively be able to DA-proof the GNU.

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Speaking to Briefly News about the possible expansion of the GNU and its implications for democracy if most parties were in government, Talha Randaree said it was a mixed-bag solution.

"It could be something that shows a greater sense of the word democracy. And yes, it may be ineffective at times, but it's also a motivation as parties don't want to seem like they are being outworked by a smaller partner in the project."

How did South Africans feel about the situation?

South Africans were divided by Mulder’s statement. While some agreed that the ANC was trying to cling to power, others noted that the FF Plus and DA generally objected to everything.

Noushad Farouk reiterated:

“I’ve said this many times before. This is not a GNU. It’s an alliance. A GNU has representation from all the major parties, irrespective of how anyone feels about a particular party. This is an alliance at best.”

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Mark Watchguy stated:

“There will be so much fighting if more parties with opposing views get involved that they will get nothing done.”

Paren Pillay noted:

“The ANC wants ‘Yes Men’ for the GNU. They don't like challenges. Why not call for a new early election?”

Leon De Bruin said:

“We need to ANC-proof SA.”

Tshinyadzo Makwarela asked:

“What can a 2% party tell the ANC. Who do they think they are?”

Nkå Thã Zø agreed:

“Then they can go. They are not forced to be in the GNU.”

Carl Taylor added:

“The ANC is a dictatorship, and the country needs to wake up to the fact. Just like Zimbabwe is under the ZANU-PF.”

Nkosinathi Fortune questioned:

“Who are FF+? I only recognise one guy there, Dr Groenewald; otherwise, the party is very small.”

Justice Zinjhiva Hlungwane stated:

“DA is opposed to everything.”

Ramulayo Mukwevho said:

“The ANC want to steal in peace without the DA policing it.”

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ANC remains committed to the GNU

Briefly News reported that Ramaphosa said the ANC remained committed to making the GNU work.

The president also noted that the party was considering making changes to the current coalition government.

South Africans were divided by Ramaphosa's assessment of the coalition and his plans for it going forward.

Gayton McKenzie withdraws statement linking Open Chats Podcast with SABC

In other news, Briefly News reported that the President of the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie, spoke up about the remarks he made about the South African Broadcasting Corporation. McKenzie said he met with the SABC and admitted that he was wrong for implicating the SABC in the Open Chats Podcast. This was after the podcast hosts went viral for using racially discriminatory statements against coloured people.

Source: Briefly News