Actionsa Is Not Politically Aligned With Anc, Herman Mashaba Insists

ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba insists that his party is not politically aligned with the African National Congress ANC.

This follows speculation that it could soon join the government of national unity GNU after the two parties reached a budget deal in Parliament last week.

In a statement on Wednesday 9 April, Mashaba sought to reassert ActionSAs role as an independent and constructive opposition.

Let me state this unequivocally: ActionSA is not politically aligned with the ANC, nor do we intend to be. We engage with the ANC and other parties on an issue-by-issue basis, always with the aim of serving the best interests of all South Africans, he said.

He recalled that his party rejected the ANCs invitation to join the GNU after the 2024 elections.

We still believe that South Africa needs an effective opposition to hold government accountable. Joining forces with the ANC - other than doing so on an 'issue-by-issue' basis - would undermine our ability to fulfil the role we have chosen for ourselves during this GNU era, Mashaba said.

This is seemingly a retreat from his comments during an interview with Newzroom Afrika last week when he expressed willingness to join the GNU.

It is up to the ANC to decide. But if they do feel that they want to invite us into government, then absolutely, ActionSA will accept that, he said at the time.

Its the presidents decision to put together a cabinet. If it does happen that he invites ActionSA to be part of government, we would gladly participate in ensuring that we keep our country stable.

In his statement, however, Mashaba said while ActionSA is engaging with the ANC on the budget, we will never compromise our values or align ourselves with entities that perpetuate South Africa's pains.