The African National Congress (ANC) has postponed its special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, as pressure mounts from big business to preserve the fragile Government of National Unity (GNU) – including its partnership with the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Reports state that the meeting, originally scheduled for Monday to map out a way forward after the DA’s refusal to back the fiscal framework in Parliament, will no longer take place as planned.
Instead, the ANC’s national working committee – initially expected to meet on Sunday – will now convene on Monday, with senior officials set to deliberate on the matter beforehand.
Sources say business leaders have reached out to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen, urging them to find common ground and avoid fracturing the multi-party coalition.
However, the ANC’s decision to delay the meeting has sparked frustration among some NEC members, who see it as a retreat from a tough stance the party leadership recently communicated to its parliamentary caucus. According to those familiar with the internal dynamics, the delay is seen by some as a concession to external influence at a time when the ANC should be asserting control.
Earlier this week, both Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile, reportedly told ANC MPs that the DA’s refusal to support the national budget amounted to voluntarily exiting the ten-party coalition. Despite this, one senior ANC official told Eyewitness News that the situation has reached a “point of no return” with the DA – but emphasized that the NEC meeting was postponed to allow space for broader consultation.
Some ANC members have dismissed the calls from the business sector outright, warning that if Ramaphosa prioritizes their views over the party’s position, he risks undermining his leadership within the ANC.
Meanwhile, the DA remains divided on whether to stay in the GNU. Party leaders have deflected calls from the business community, suggesting that if there’s a desire to preserve the coalition, those concerns should be directed at the ANC.
