PA Stays in GNU After High-Level Talks With ANC: Kunene Confirms

Patriotic Alliance Pullback Halted: Kunene Confirms Continuation in GNU

After a tense week in Gauteng politics, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) has officially confirmed it will remain in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The announcement came following a high-level meeting between PA leaders and top ANC officials in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.

The party had signalled a full withdrawal from national, provincial, and local coalitions with the ANC last week. PA leader and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie had cited “bad faith” and political betrayal as the primary reasons, particularly pointing to disputes in Gauteng municipalities such as Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.

A Flashpoint Over Portfolios

Tensions initially arose in Johannesburg, where the PA originally held two key portfolios: Human Settlements and Roads and Transport. Under ANC pressure, the PA relinquished the Human Settlements post to the IFP to strengthen coalition dynamics, leaving only Roads and Transport.

The final straw came when Kenny Kunene stepped down as MMC for Roads and Transport following public criticism. McKenzie described the move as a way to “spare the coalition the agony” of addressing concerns about officials not aligned with the ANC.

Talks Put Resignation Threat to Rest

Kunene confirmed that Tuesday night’s discussions with the ANC “put to bed” any thoughts of McKenzie resigning or the PA withdrawing from coalitions.

“This meeting has put to bed the issue of the resignation of the president, Gayton McKenzie, or us withdrawing from coalitions,” Kunene said during a live broadcast.
“The proposals made sense and we are quite excited.”

The discussions were described as constructive and broader than expected, covering not only Johannesburg but also Ekurhuleni, Mfuleni, Tshwane, and the West Rand.

Who Was at the Table

The ANC delegation included co-convenors Amos Masondo and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, alongside senior members of the Gauteng Provincial Task Team such as Ntombi Mekgwe, Hope Papo, Nomantu Ralehoko-Nkomo, and Tasneem Motara. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero was also present.

The PA team comprised national chairperson Marlon Daniels, spokesperson Steve Motale, treasurer general Anthea Leach, and marketing head Bakam Lituko.

Broader Discussions and Next Steps

Kunene and Daniels revealed that the talks went beyond the initial mandate, addressing wider coalition dynamics and other dissatisfactions with ANC governance.

“We brought it upon ourselves and therefore we’ll take responsibility for the postponement until later in the week,” Daniels said, noting that both parties needed to consult their structures before finalising agreements.

The PA plans to hold a full National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting before Friday to formalise its stance and schedule a follow-up with the ANC.

Staying Focused on Growth and Vision

Kunene used the announcement to rally supporters, urging continued community work and voter mobilisation.

“People think politics is pap and vleis. It’s difficult. It needs blessings. It needs character, very, very strong character. But it needs vision,” he said.
“When they insult us, don’t worry. They are losers focusing on us, the winners, because we focus on victory. That is why we are the fastest-growing political party in the country.”

As the PA navigates coalition politics in Gauteng, the party’s message remains clear: unity within the GNU, community focus, and strategic growth.

{Source: IOL}

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