The South African Communist Party (SACP) is calling for the Democratic Alliance (DA) to leave the Government of National Unity. The SACP labeled the DA “hypocritical” for rejecting the government budget while remaining in the coalition. Despite DA’s opposition, the budget passed with a 192-182 majority vote on April 5. The SACP argues that the successful budget vote proves the GNU can function without DA participation. This confrontation raises questions about the coalition’s future stability.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has called for the Democratic Alliance (DA) to exit the Government of National Unity (GNU) following the DA’s rejection of the National Budget fiscal framework.
The SACP labeled the DA’s position “hypocritical,” arguing that a party can’t reject the government’s budget while remaining part of the governing coalition.
This political doublespeak exposes their true intentions – rejecting fiscal fundamentals while claiming coalition commitment.
The controversy erupted after the April 5, 2025 parliamentary vote where the DA opposed the budget framework.
Despite the DA’s opposition, the budget passed with a 192-182 majority, with support coming from the African National Congress (ANC), ActionSA, and BOSA.
“The DA can’t have it both ways,” said an SACP spokesperson.
“They can’t reject the fiscal foundation of government while pretending to be committed to its success.”
The communist party emphasized that the budget vote proves the GNU can function without the DA’s participation.
Dr. Alex Mashilo articulated the SACP’s position that a workable majority of 50% plus one is achievable in parliament without DA involvement.
Following the vote, the stability of the GNU has come into question.
The ANC has convened discussions specifically addressing the DA’s future in the coalition.
Business leaders have stepped in, urging both parties to resolve their differences to prevent economic damage.
Markets have already reacted negatively to the political uncertainty, with the rand showing depreciation as investors worry about the coalition’s future.
The SACP has pointed to this as further evidence that clarity is needed about the DA’s position.
The communist party outlined several arguments for the DA’s removal.
They insist that voting against the fiscal framework fundamentally contradicts participation in government.
They’ve also highlighted that the successful budget vote demonstrates the ANC can secure majorities by working with smaller parties instead.
“It’s time to show the DA the door,” the SACP stated in their official communication.
“Their actions prove they’re more interested in opposition politics than governance.”
Adding to the political tension, the DA has filed a legal challenge in the Western Cape High Court seeking to block the VAT increase included in the budget.
The SACP criticized this move as further undermining the coalition government’s economic program.
SACP spokesperson Alex Mashilo emphasized that the DA should voluntarily exit after their contradictory stance on the budget rejection vote.
The SACP has also demanded the reversal of the VAT increase, arguing it places an unfair burden on low-income households.
This stance creates an unusual alignment with the DA on the VAT issue, though for different reasons.
As the situation develops, the ANC is exploring alternative coalition arrangements that could potentially bypass the DA.
Political analysts note that the successful budget vote without DA support may have emboldened the ANC to evaluate restructuring the GNU.
The coming weeks will likely determine whether the GNU can overcome this significant challenge or if South Africa’s coalition experiment will face a major reconfiguration.
Conclusion
The SACP’s demand for the DA to leave the Government of National Unity highlights growing tensions within South Africa’s coalition government. After the DA rejected the budget while remaining in government positions, the SACP called this stance hypocritical. This political standoff raises questions about the GNU’s stability and the future of cooperation between parties with fundamentally different economic policies.
