Political analyst Professor Steven Friedman has criticized the Democratic Alliance (DA) for blaming the African National Congress (ANC) over the 30% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, calling it a sign of deep divisions within South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).
This follows the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decision to “reset” the GNU, amid growing tensions between the two parties. Friedman noted that it was unusual for a political party to blame its own government for external trade measures, especially since Trump’s tariffs targeted multiple countries, including Brazil and India, for unrelated political reasons.
“A Deeply Divided Society”
Friedman argued that the DA’s stance reflects broader societal divisions, with some sectors of South African society quick to blame the government rather than acknowledge Western policies as the root cause.
“It shows that there’s a section of South African society—not just the DA but also some business representatives—who believe the West is always right,” Friedman said. “If an African country like South Africa is bullied by the West, they assume it must be South Africa’s fault.”
He added that this mindset reinforces racial and economic divides, with some viewing township residents as “inferior” for not being “Western enough.”
GNU: A Coalition of Convenience, Not Unity
Friedman dismissed the GNU as a coalition of necessity rather than genuine unity, stating that the DA and ANC remain together only because they lack better political options.
“This is not a government of national unity; it’s a coalition created out of convenience,” he said. “The only reason it survives is because the parties in it don’t have other options.”
Despite shared goals like economic reform and improving state efficiency, Friedman expressed skepticism that the GNU could meaningfully address unemployment, which recently rose to 33.2%.
Call for National Bargaining, Not Dialogue
Friedman argued that South Africa needs “hard national bargaining” rather than superficial dialogue to address deep-seated issues like racial redress and economic inequality.
“We didn’t become a democracy by pretending everyone was on the same page in the 1990s,” he said. “We recognized our divisions and bargained. We need to do that again—on the economy, on professions, on culture.”
No Unity on Trump Tariffs
On the issue of Trump’s tariffs, Friedman said the GNU remains split, with ANC-led ministries handling trade and foreign policy while DA-controlled departments operate independently.
“At the moment, we don’t have a government so much as a collection of ministries,” he said. “If we want real change, it must come from outside this arrangement.”
Conclusion
Friedman’s analysis underscores the fragility of South Africa’s unity government, revealing ideological rifts that hinder effective governance. As tensions persist, the question remains whether the GNU can move beyond political infighting to tackle the country’s pressing economic crises.