DA can walk, says Mbalula

DEADLOCK: SECRETARY-GENERAL VOWS GNU WON'T COLLAPSE WITH ANC AT THE HELM

- Faizel Patel, Jarryd Westerdale & Brendan Seery

The ANC is looking for alternative partners in the government of national unity (GNU) by pressing the "reset button" on the arrangement, says ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula - and if DA chooses to go, "then we will close the door".

If that happens, then the ANC would "debate who comes in", Mbalula added.

He said the ANC has "not taken a position about any political party in the GNU and that includes the DA", remarking that "maybe the DA doesn't want to be in GNU any more".

Accusing the DA of acting "in bad faith" during its membership of the GNU, Mbalula claimed DA ministers "have openly violated the executive ethics code.

"Minister [Siviwe] Gwarube refused to attend the Bela Bill signing into law. Another minister travelled abroad without the president's permission and misrepresented South Africa," he said.

But DA leader John Steenhuisen hit back, saying the GNU was formed because "the electorate sent a clear message: single-party rule is over and no one party gets to dictate our policy direction".