ANC Eyes ActionSA to Curb DA’s Power in Unity Government

The fragile truce holding South Africa’s government of national unity together is showing fresh cracks and the ANC appears ready to reshape the coalition to its advantage.

Frustrated by what insiders describe as the DA’s “kingmaker” behaviour, the ANC is considering bringing other parties into the fold, including Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA and potentially Rise Mzansi. Analysts say the move could be the start of a quiet political chess game designed to reduce the DA’s influence without dismantling the GNU entirely.

Friction Behind the Scenes

Political analyst Sandile Swana says the ANC’s patience has been wearing thin. From opposing the VAT increase earlier this year to raising what Swana calls “irrelevant issues” aimed at embarrassing the ruling party, the DA has, in his view, been using its position to appeal both to poorer communities and Afrikaner right-wing voters.

“The ANC never intended for the DA to have veto power,” Swana explains. “Now they’re looking for ways to shift the balance.”

That balancing act may involve the little-known National Coloured Congress and Rise Mzansi — the latter already holding key positions in Gauteng, including Songezo Zibi’s role as chair of the powerful public accounts committee, Scopa.

ActionSA as a “DA-lite” Option

For analyst Goodenough Mashego, the potential inclusion of ActionSA is not just political manoeuvring — it’s also about economics. He describes ActionSA as a “DA-lite” party: pro-business, market-friendly, and palatable to the same corporate interests that helped shape the GNU after the 2024 elections.

“The GNU is a business construct,” Mashego argues. “If the DA were to walk out tomorrow, ActionSA could step in and keep the same policy direction intact.”

This alignment with business interests may also explain why the ANC is steering clear of the EFF and the MK party, despite the temptation to counter the DA with stronger ideological allies.

Keeping the DA in Check Without Breaking the GNU

The strategy, according to both Swana and Mashego, is not to push the DA out, but to dilute its leverage by building a coalition within the coalition. Smaller parties like ActionSA and Rise Mzansi could tip the scales in parliamentary votes and Cabinet discussions, reducing the DA’s ability to block ANC policy moves.

Social media reaction has been split. Some see it as a clever play to stabilise government decision-making, while DA supporters accuse the ANC of undermining the GNU spirit for political gain. A Johannesburg-based X user quipped, “GNU’s turning into Survivor: Parliament Edition alliances today, blindsides tomorrow.”

What It Means for the Future

If ActionSA joins the GNU at a national level, speculation will grow around possible Cabinet appointments for Mashaba himself. Such a move could redraw South Africa’s political map, giving the ANC more room to push through policies without DA approval, while still keeping the business-friendly image that reassures investors.

For now, the DA remains in the unity government, but the ANC’s latest signals suggest the balance of power could soon shift. In South African politics, unity is rarely set in stone and the GNU may be about to learn that the hard way.

{Source: The Citizen}

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