The DA remains steadfast in opposing the National Health Insurance Bill in its current form. The impasse between the DA and the ANC, the two leading parties in the government of national unity, has resulted in political instability and a weakened rand on Monday.
On Saturday, the DA declared a formal dispute over the Expropriation Bill and the NHI, a development that has left the ANC undeterred. DA leader John Steenhuisen said that while his party remains committed to the GNU, there should be proper consultation in the coalition government.
“The Democratic Alliance remains, as a political party, fully committed to the GNU. However we need to make sure that the Democratic Alliance, as the second-largest party in the GNU, is allowed to express itself, is allowed to put on the table alternatives and to work together to find consensus decision making in the GNU,” said Steenhuisen.
The Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen lambasts President Cyril Ramaphosa for not consulting the GNU partners. This is regarding the #ExpropriationAct. Steenhuisen says he found out the bill has been signed on social media. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/by9bvAIFc7
— eNCA (@eNCA) January 28, 2025
“We hope to find consensus on the way forward but I must make it very clear; and no-one must be under any doubt, that we will not be taken for granted. We will not be reduced to being spectators. And the day that we cannot have an influence on growing the economy and creating jobs will be the day that our future involvement in the GNU will have to be questioned,” said Steenhuisen.
Meanwhile, the ANC hit back by saying that President Cyril Ramaphosa cannot simply backtrack on signing a bill, when it was already passed by National Assembly. The ANC’s Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule spoke during a media briefing, at Luthuli House. The party was updating the media on the outcomes of its national lekgotla, which was held over the weekend.
[WATCH ANC NEC member, Cde Fébé Potgieter clarifies the role of Ministers in the GNU context.
“The Statement of Intent talks about a commitment to the rule of Law… all ministers in the ANC-led government of national unity have to implement the law of the Republic…you can’t… pic.twitter.com/mGKRVXqQyt
— African National Congress (@MYANC) January 28, 2025
“The Expropriation Bill was passed by parliament before the elections, during the sixth administration. It was found to be constitutional and the president signed it. And that’s the case with a number of other pieces of legislation that were passed by parliament before but just had to be signed by the president. We must respect the constitution and we must respect the rule of law. The president can’t after parliament pass a law, unless it’s unconstitutional, he can’t then say that he’s not gonna sign the law or that he’s going to negotiate about different aspects of it because somebody feels that they’re not happy with it. It’s been passed by parliament and this is the approach that is being followed,” Potgieter-Gqubule clarified.
When questioned about the possibility of the DA withdrawing from the GNU as a result of the impasse, this is what the ANC had to say:
“This thing about leaving the government of national unity is a bit like the little boy crying wolf and I think that by the time you really implement, and there is really a wolf, you may find that nobody is listening because you’ve cried wolf so many times,” Potgieter-Gqubule concluded.
