'It's an amoeba lacking shape'

ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said the Government of National Unity (GNU) was “an amoeba, it doesn’t have a shape” and warned that unless parties act with discipline and shared purpose, the project risked becoming unworkable.

- HOPE NTANZI

In a media interview, Mokonyane described the GNU was a “strategic setback” for the ANC, though she acknowledged it emerged through the will of the South African electorate.

“It's not what we wanted. It's what came through the process of South Africans,” she said.

“We had to appreciate that this organisation is the organisation of the people, whether we go strong, we must humble ourselves and make sure that we use the little that we have to bring all interested parties together. That is the GNU.”

Mokonyane insisted that the GNU could survive until the next national elections, but only “as long as there's cooperation and collaboration amongst parties.”

The biggest threat, she said, was the behaviour of the Democratic Alliance (DA), whom she bluntly called “the most irresponsible party”.

“They misbehave. Remember, they were going to oppose the budget. They try and are pushing that they deal with issues like foreign policy, how they want to play a dual role of an opposition and a party in government.”

She also accused the DA of undermining the president and violating the agreed GNU Statement of Intent, warning that some within the DA have made no secret of their desire to see the ANC destroyed.