Tensions surface in GNU talks as FF Plus opposes expansion plan
Minister of Correctional Services and Freedom Front Plus leader, Pieter Groenewald on a community outreach
image: VF plus on X
by Mathipa Phishego
The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), a coalition member, has strongly opposed the African National Congress’s (ANC) attempt to enlarge the newly established Government of National Unity (GNU), posing the first significant obstacle to the alliance’s growth. The FF Plus said in a statement over the weekend that it is opposed to adding more parties, cautioning that doing so may weaken the unity and mission of the GNU, which was established in the wake of South Africa’s hotly contested May elections.
“The GNU is already a fragile balancing act, adding more political parties at this stage will not necessarily strengthen the government it may weaken its ability to make clear decisions and follow through on a coherent agenda,” said FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald.
The ANC, which lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in democratic South Africa’s history, has positioned the GNU as a pragmatic response to a fragmented electorate. Under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the party invited multiple political groups including the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and FF Plus into a broad coalition to ensure stability and governability.
However, behind the scenes, sources within the ANC suggest that the party has been courting smaller formations like the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and Al Jama-ah to widen the base of the unity government. The move is seen as an attempt to reduce the ANC’s growing dependence on larger, ideologically distant partners such as the DA.
The FF Plus’s opposition underscores growing ideological and strategic tensions within the GNU. While the FF Plus has largely supported conservative economic policies and emphasized minority rights, parties like Al Jama-ah and the ATM are rooted in distinctly different constituencies and priorities.
Groenewald stated that this is not about numbers, it is about principles, and about ensuring the GNU does not become a dumping ground for political opportunism. The ANC faces a delicate balancing act.
For now, the GNU continues to function, but the ANC’s next steps could determine the long-term viability of the coalition. With the FF Plus drawing a red line, and murmurs of discomfort from within the DA as well. President Ramaphosa may be forced to decide between inclusivity and manageability, a choice with far-reaching implications for South Africa’s political future.
