President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that South Africa’s government will not be swayed by corporate influence, declaring that the African National Congress (ANC) prioritizes public needs over business interests. His remarks come amid growing tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU) following last week’s contentious budget vote.
GNU Under Strain After Budget Dispute
The fragile coalition—comprising the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), and smaller parties—faced a major test when the DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) voted against the 2025 national budget. The ANC labeled the move a “betrayal,” with some members calling for the DA’s removal from the GNU.
Business leaders, concerned about political instability, had reportedly pressed Ramaphosa and DA leader John Steenhuisen to maintain the coalition. But the president pushed back firmly.
“Business does not dictate our decisions,” Ramaphosa said Sunday after an ANC meeting in Soweto. “Our focus is on the people—those struggling with poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Their needs, not corporate agendas, guide our policies.”
Ramaphosa Responds to U.S. Sanction Threats
The president also addressed a proposed U.S. congressional resolution seeking sanctions against South African officials over the country’s diplomatic ties with China, Russia, and Iran. Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson accused South Africa of undermining U.S. interests, but Ramaphosa dismissed the threat as misguided.
“We will respond thoughtfully, not emotionally,” he said, reaffirming South Africa’s sovereign right to independent foreign policy. He declined to comment on U.S. domestic issues, including protests against Trump-era tariffs, emphasizing that South Africa remains focused on its own challenges.
Coalition Future in Question
The GNU’s stability remains uncertain as the ANC weighs its next steps. The DA’s legal challenge to the budget’s VAT hike has further strained relations, with Ramaphosa accusing the party of disregarding economic realities.
Despite the infighting, the president stressed ANC unity, stating, “Our mission is to serve South Africans—not outside groups, whether corporate or foreign.”
As pressure mounts from all sides, Ramaphosa’s defiant stance signals a government determined to assert its autonomy, even at the risk of coalition discord. The coming weeks will test whether the GNU can survive its internal fractures—or if South Africa’s political landscape is headed for another shake-up.