BOSA scores first 100 days of GNU at 50% success rate with much improvement needed

1 October 2024

The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) following this year’s elections injected both optimism and excitement into the nation’s collective mood. After 30 years of one-party governance at national level, it was no surprise that South Africans embraced this new chapter.

We looked forward keenly to a change in trajectory, with the hope that the whole would indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. Bringing long-standing political foes together offered a new standard of accountability and a consensus style government.

With no one party being perfect, we hoped that working together would unify South Africa as we would now focus on our different strengths instead of poking at each other’s many weaknesses.

100 days later, and there appear to be fault lines emerging that threaten the entire administration. Policy deadlocks such as the BELA bill and the NHI have now been compounded by relational issues, with the very recent political developments in the City of Tshwane threatening to be the first of many.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) is clear: we want the GNU to succeed. However, the cracks that are appearing now were predictable given the lack of a plan for government. The mistake was that instead of the new government agreeing on a shared agenda, policy direction and governance plan – and making this public – they forged ahead without these vital components in place.  

They hoped that mood and sentiment would keep the ship going on an issue-by-issue basis. The truth is no government can effectively operate in those conditions, let alone a delicate coalition of ideologically divergent parties.

This is the very reason BOSA decided not to join the GNU. Merely “working together” is not a strategy for governance, growth and delivery.

What is needed is a comprehensive plan for government – armed with a shared vision, policy agenda and implementation monitoring system.

In our role as a constructive opposition party at the centre of South African politics, we today provide a high-level review of the GNU’s performance during its first 100 days.

We have assessed progress made in the following key areas which affect all 61 million South Africans.

1.      The Economy

2.      Basic Education

3.      Crime and Safety

4.      Healthcare

5.      Effective Government

In our view, we believe the GNU’s first 100 days deserves an overall grading of 50% with a need for much improvement. There is still time to course correct, and in our assessment below we offer constructive feedback on how this can be achieved.

The Economy

The GNU enjoyed a promising first 100 days, with the markets responding positively to the political stability it has introduced. The economy has seen a boost in market sentiment, driven by a 5.8% appreciation of the rand. Much of this optimism can be credited to reforms initiated under President Ramaphosa’s previous administration, particularly in fiscal stability, governance, and efforts to address the energy crisis. 

However, while business confidence has increased, the country continues to face a significant structural challenge. High unemployment (32.9%), pervasive poverty (55.5%), and the rising cost of living continue to burden ordinary South Africans. Energy infrastructure has stabilised, avoiding power cuts for five months, but broader issues such as outdated logistics networks and water supply remain unaddressed. 

As a result, we should note cautiously that the economic improvements we have seen to-date seem to be sentiment-driven and that, at this point, these results have not (a) translated to tangible effects for poor and marginalised South Africans, and (b) resolved any of the major economic policy differences between the ANC and the DA. 

Moreover, the ANC and DA are diametrically opposed on policies central to the economy, including, B-BBEE, the minimum wage, and labour laws and regulation.

To move forward, the GNU must prioritize long-term infrastructure investment and resolve key debates on economic transformation and growth policies, ensuring that optimism translates into tangible benefits for all citizens.

Basic Education

In education the GNU has initiated several positive developments, notably advancing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, which aims to enhance access and equity in education. This legislation is a significant step toward addressing systemic inequalities, ensuring that all children have the right to quality education.

Additionally, the government has made commitments to improve school infrastructure, including the eradication of pit toilets, which reflects a growing recognition of the importance of safe learning environments.

However, this optimism is overshadowed by pressing challenges. With projected departmental budget cuts and the potential reduction of teacher posts in some provinces, the GNU faces a daunting reality that could undermine these initial gains.

The nine provincial education departments will require an additional projected minimum of R79 billion and a maximum of R118 billion by 2027 to fund their programmes, which includes paying teachers’ salaries. In addition, teachers will now have to deal with increasing classroom sizes, as a sector in crisis attempts to navigate its way through a maze of budget issues.

To build on its early successes, the GNU must prioritise sustainable funding solutions, enhance support for educators, and ensure effective implementation of new and old legislation. This approach will be vital to addressing the real needs of South African students and fostering a more equitable and resilient education system.

Crime and Safety

The GNU has made some strides in addressing crime, notably through recent developments made on extortion in the country, as well as statements made by Minister Mchunu vowing to improve SAPS crime fighting performance. This shift is underscored by shocking and persistent crime statistics. Over 80 murders and 135 rapes daily place South Africa among the most violent countries in the world. 

However, while these discussions are promising, the GNU’s performance remains sobering. The police force is strained, averaging over 300 cases per officer, with recent funding increases having not translated into an increase in crime detection or officer wellbeing. In addition, a budget increase for VIP funding and bloated cabinet offices remains disappointing and suggests a lack of commitment to doing things differently.

The recent case of Thembi Simelane, accused of corruption and abuse of power, underscores a critical juncture for the GNU. If the ANC fails to hold her accountable, it could undermine public trust and perceptions of the government’s commitment to integrity and justice.

To improve, the GNU must focus on implementing existing officer training programmes effectively, focus on internal instances of corruption, and seriously consider public-private partnerships to increase state capacity in fighting crime.

Healthcare

There has been little progress in the health sector in the first 100 days of the GNU. The major talking point of the GNU and the state of the healthcare system has concerned itself with the NHI Bill and its implementation.

While the NHI and its various forms have been debated at length by opposition parties, it is clear that the GNU has not made progress on these issues. To-date, it remains unclear whether or not there will be any productive engagement between the ANC and opposition parties when it comes to both ideological and practical disagreements on the NHI. 

Yet, what should be highlighted is the lived situation which persists for many South Africans. While parties in the GNU continue to bump heads and fix their eyes on the NHI, we should turn ours to current real-world data on the state of healthcare in the country. The 2024 issue of the South African Child Gauge, an annual report by the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute, find that: 

·        1 infant in 5 is not fully immunised by their first birthday;

·        3 in 10 children in South Africa display stunted growth; and

·        1 in 25 children die before their fifth birthday.

These are startling facts which point to a sector in disarray. To improve the healthcare system, South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) should prioritise increasing funding for public health facilities, addressing the serious resource shortfalls that limit service delivery. In addition, it is crucial to introduce more efficient oversight mechanisms for when funds are allocated, as a way to prevent the persistent plague of corruption and mismanagement which has befallen the sector in previous years.

 Lastly, a clear public value mission and mandate for each level of the health services should be communicated. This last point is crucial in the broader context of the GNU, which has so far failed to communicate more robust and detailed pathways forward. 

Effective Government

Ther is a lack of clarity in the general policy direction of the GNU, which affects its ability to actually deliver. The public have been exposed to several iterations of this uncertainty, evident in debates around the BELA Bill and NHI Bill. Moreover, we have seen a significant lack of clarity from parties on their seemingly contradictory behaviour since entering the executive branch of government.

The GNU has another unintended consequence: weakening Parliament’s accountability role. Currently, 70% of Parliament is part of the GNU, and one in every 5 MPs serving as ministers or deputy ministers. The rules of Parliament must change if we are to strengthen oversight and accountability.

Financial constraints have further complicated its efforts, highlighted by cuts to the education budget, ongoing healthcare challenges, and rising tariffs that burden average citizens. Additionally, the GNU is marked by significant contradictions within its ranks, exemplified by its unprecedentedly bloated cabinet, which is projected to cost nearly one billion rand in salaries over five years, raising concerns about the allocation of resources to those in need.

Compounding these issues is the failure to formalise coalition agreements, leading to infighting among parties at local levels—actions that undermine the unity the GNU was intended to represent and further alienate the electorate from its governance.

The Way Forward

The GNU is leaving South Africans behind and has yet to paint a vision of a shared tomorrow that we can all see ourselves prospering in. And South Africans are quickly losing hope. The euphoria is fading.

The GNU has become a patronage and power grab government where the focus is on handing out positions to parties in exchange for cooperation.

That is why BOSA called for a National Dialogue that includes every constituency in the country. We called for this before the GNU was formed, and we continue to echo this call.  A National Convention offers the most democratic and transparent pathway to agreeing on a government agenda that is values-based and delivery-based.

We reiterate our call for a national dialogue that offers more than cosmetic changes – but builds a new national identity based on shared values.

Issued by Roger Solomons, BOSA Acting Spokesperson, 1 October 2024