The African National Congress (ANC) says its Government of National Unity (GNU) partner, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) objection to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments on Russia being an ally to South Africa during his address at the BRICS Summit, is misplaced.
The partners are at odds over their clashing foreign policy stances, which has led to the DA accusing Ramaphosa of not respecting the GNU agreements.
Mahlengi Bhengu- Motsiri is the ANC’s spokesperson.
“It’s a really misplaced conversation, given the fact that there’s nothing in that statement of intent that suggests that the President needs to consult anyone, in executing the roles of a President that are enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The idea that the President needs to go and consult with all the parties in the GNU, and the DA, which describes itself as the key partner in the GNU, something that we don’t quite understand because the statement talks about partners to the GNU. So, there’s nothing that requires the President to go and consult about implementing a policy of government.”