BuildOneSA leader Mmusi Maimane has given the Government of National Unity (GNU) a paltry 50% score following the coalition made up of the ANC, DA and other smaller parties’ 100 days in office.
Maimane said the recent situation in the City of Tshwane following the removal of Mayor, Cilliers Brink through a motion of no confidence as well as the refusal by minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube to attend the recent signing of the Bela Bill and the DA’s strong opposition of NHI, are some of the issues of concern crippling the stability of the GNU.
Even though he chose to be generous, Maimane cautioned that these and many other incidents of bickering and back and forth spats will threaten the stability of the government and its ability to render services to South Africans.
As a result, Maimane has called on the opposition to be the buffer that will continue to hold the executive accountable as the GNU currently dominates Parliament with more than 70% representation in the National Assembly.
“As BOSA, we have given the GNU a 50% performance during the first 100 days in office. With no party being perfect we hoped that working together would unify South Africans we would now focus on our different strengths instead of poking at each other’s many weaknesses.
“Hundred days later, and there appears to be fault lines emerging that threaten the entire administration. Policy deadlocks such as the Bela Bill and the NHI have now been compounded by relational issues, with the very recent political developments in the City of Tshwane threatening to be the first of many,” he said.
In light of the budget cuts to funding education, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said equity in education and the health sector must be prioritised by the GNU.
“We must create one education system. Currently, we have an education system that is for the rich and the one that is for the poor.
“It is a positive development that there is an advancement of the Bela Bill but as has been mentioned, the challenge that you have with the GNU is that of opposing thinking when it comes to policies of development and that has become an enabler of private lobbying.
“What the bill should be about is creating equity in the quality of education and healthcare where we can get to a point where we can say there is one education system,” she said.
The Star