ANC Hints at Possible Expansion of Government of National Unity Amid Political Tensions
Viable News Team 
Image Credit: ANC / X
Johannesburg – African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party will soon update the nation on potential changes to the Government of National Unity (GNU), including the possibility of expanding the current ten-party coalition.
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation and follows the GNU’s struggles to find consensus, particularly on the 2025 National Budget, where the ANC had to reach out to opposition parties to secure enough support to pass it in Parliament.
Mbalula: “GNU is Always on the Agenda”
Mbalula confirmed that discussions on the GNU’s future are underway:
“GNU is GNU; it’s always on our agenda. So, I said to you that we will engage about the GNU in the two, three weeks, resetting the button, work with all political parties in the GNU and going forward to ensure that the GNU becomes stronger but most importantly, ANC must be stronger,” he said.
Concerns Within the GNU
The prospect of expansion has sparked mixed reactions among current coalition members.
DA leader John Steenhuisen cautioned against the idea, arguing that adding more parties could complicate governance:
“This has to be done in consultation with the parties that are currently in the GNU. I don’t believe that expanding the GNU is going to assist the GNU in going forward. I think it’s going to complicate things even further.”
Opposition Parties React
While the ANC has yet to confirm which parties it has approached, some outside players have weighed in.
- ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba reiterated his party’s stance of constructive opposition:
“We made it very clear to the ANC. Immediately after the elections they sent someone senior to my house to talk to me. And I said, ‘look, you’ve got 70% of parliament. What do you want us for? To neutralise us? So, please leave us out.’”
- Build One South Africa (BOSA) has said it would only consider entering talks under specific conditions, though no formal commitments have been made.
The ANC is expected to provide a public update in the coming weeks, as internal negotiations continue. Analysts warn that while expansion could strengthen the coalition numerically, it may also deepen internal divisions if not carefully managed.
About the Author
