Business Does Not Dictate To Government Or Anc, Ramaphosa Says Amid Gnu Rift

President Cyril Ramaphosa says business groups do not dictate to the government or African National Congress ANC.

In a letter dated 3 April, business leaders appealed to Ramaphosa and Democratic Alliance DA leader John Steenhuisen to stay the course and compromise.

This after the DA voted against the budgets fiscal framework in Parliament last week. This sparked concerns that it would either leave or be forced out of the government of national unity GNU, where it is the second largest party.

We acknowledge the complexity of the current situation and the real differences of opinion that exist, the business leaders wrote.

But from where we stand, those differences - while not insignificant - appear bridgeable over time. The cost of failing to bridge them - instability, stalled reform and lost investor confidence - would be far greater.

They included Discovery CEO Adrian Gore, Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad and Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso, among others.

Speaking to the media on Sunday 6 April, Ramaphosa said business leaders are entitled to express their views. However, they do not dictate what happens in government or the ANC.

We take our own decisions based on our considerations of everything that would advance the interests of our people. The ANC will not be influenced by what business says. We are principally influenced by what our people say.

The president added that the ANCs National Executive Committee NEC will meet soon to discuss the way forward regarding the GNU. The partys National Working Committee will first meet on Monday.

The DAs Federal Executive also held meetings over the weekend. However, it has not yet made a decision on the partys participation in the GNU.