GNU: New Cabinet must hit the ground running to address poverty and inequality

30 June 2024

The GOOD Party congratulates new members of the national executive on their appointments.

They must be given the opportunity to settle in, quickly, because they don’t have the luxury of time. 

Abnormal inequality and poverty have the country close to breaking point, and the new (expanded) government will be closely monitored and judged on its performance in bringing marginalized South Africans in from the cold.

The new GNU also has a critical job to re-assert non-racialism following an election in which many South Africans voted on identity lines. Failing in this regard will lead to unprecedented division on the road to the next general election in 2029.

The DA, in particular, has a role to play de-pressuring the GNU by unequivocally demonstrating that it is not the party of whiteness that many South Africans believe it to be.

GOOD agreed to support the proposed Government of National Unity, not in the expectation of being rewarded with positions but to contribute constructively to the country’s transition to a new era of power sharing. 

Our support for the GNU won’t come at the cost of muting our voice. 

GOOD will continue advocating for social, economic, spatial and environmental justice. 

We will continue to shout for a Basic Income Grant of sufficient value for all citizens to be able to feed themselves AND for the creation of an economic environment conducive to business health and growth.

We continue to believe that a united South Africa at peace with itself is possible, and that we must follow the clearly articulated recipe in the Constitution to achieve it.

Issued by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General, 30 June 2024