His remarks come amid growing tensions between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA), following the DA’s rejection of the 2025 national budget and a legal challenge against it.

Speaking after delivering the Solomon Mahlangu Lecture, Mashatile emphasised the importance of unity and cooperation among all parties within the GNU.

“We want all the parties in the GNU to work in terms of that statement of intent,” he said. “So we are expecting that parties in the GNU should move together, to work together.”

Mashatile expressed concern over the DA and Freedom Front Plus’s decision to remain in the GNU while opposing the budget.

“The DA and Freedom Front Plus have decided they are in the GNU, but they won’t vote for the budget. Now I don’t know how they expect us to work. A government that has no budget is no government, it can’t work.”

He said the ANC will decide on the next steps during today’s meeting and hinted at broader consultations within the GNU.

“We will have to talk to other leaders of the GNU as well. They are not a sideshow they must feature prominently in how we move forward. We are not going to be engaging in some bilaterals with the DA.”

--ChannelAfrica--