Thanks but no thanks: Herman Mashaba insists ActionSA uninterested in joining GNU
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says his party has not been approached to join the GNU, and he is uninterested in joining the governing coalition.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
As the African National Congress considers expanding the size and reach of the Government of National Unity (GNU) by adding more parties to the coalition currently governing South Africa, opposition party ActionSA insists it is not interested in joining the ruling arrangement.
Mashaba said so far, he has only heard from media reports that the ANC wants to approach ActionSA for negotiations around GNU inclusion, but his party has not heard a word from Luthuli House.
“I can tell you as the leader of the party, the national chairperson, and our senate, which is the highest decision-making body of our party, we are hearing it from the media.
“I am not really sure. Perhaps there is another ActionSA somewhere in this country that the ANC is engaged with, I don’t know through what channels. Definitely, not the party that I represent,” Mashaba spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.
The business mogul said last year, when the GNU was formed, his party was invited to join but declined the offer.
“Even right now, I cannot see how ActionSA can play that role. The only role that ActionSA will play is to take away our independence and the role that we are playing as an effective opposition. That is something that we will not allow anyone to really compromise us in that regard,” said Mashaba.
“There is no reason, and I want to make it really clear, particularly to our supporters, to know that ActionSA will not really be part of a 70 percent government. I think a one party government is not good for our democracy here in South Africa and anywhere else in the world.”
He said South African voters have made it abundantly clear that they want a vibrant, multi-party democracy and ActionSA will make its contribution as a “constructive opposition” in the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, IOL reported that ANC veteran and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has emphasised the need for the ANC to rebuild its structures on the ground and focus on local government to restore trust with the people.
With the upcoming local government elections, Dlamini-Zuma stressed that the ANC should prioritise strengthening its branches and delivering services to communities.
Service delivery remains a challenge in South Africa. This includes inadequate infrastructure, insufficient resources, and issues of maintenance and accountability.
ANC veteran and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the Independent Media offices on Tuesday.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Dlamini-Zuma highlighted the importance of building strong branches.
"Our branches must be built properly because the strength of the branch is what they do in the community… We are going to the local government elections, and we should be concentrating on that right now."
In 2017, Dlamini-Zuma lost the battle to become the ANC president to Cyril Ramaphosa, who won with 2,440 votes. Dlamini-Zuma got 2,261.
However, under Ramaphosa, the party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result that put South Africa on a new political path, in which the ANC was forced to form the Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA and other small parties.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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