JOHANNESBURG – ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says some political parties are using the GNU to undermine transformation.
Ramaphosa said that such efforts will be in vain.
The key mid-term review for the party saw members gather to assess progress and confront internal and national challenges.
During his closing address, Ramaphosa shifted his focus to the GNU.
He said the NEC has been tasked with strengthening the ANC’s capacity to push progressive policies within the GNU.
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This includes speeding up delivery on jobs, inclusive growth, poverty reduction, inequality, and the fight against crime and corruption.
But despite the stability brought by the GNU, public trust in political leaders and major institutions remains low.
This is according to the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation’s 2025 South African Reconciliation Barometer.
The study was conducted one year into the GNU’s first term.
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While South Africans remain sceptical of politicians, they show moderate support for the GNU’s key policy agenda.
This includes the NHI, the National Dialogue, and the Expropriation Act.
Economic hardship and persistent inequality are still seen as the biggest barriers to reconciliation.
Many households continue to face low income, food insecurity and a high cost of living.
Senior consultant at the Reconciliation Barometer, Kate Lefko-Everett, says confidence levels in the GNU are split.
“We found that a third of the country had high confidence in the GNU so far. A third had low confidence. And a third moderate confidence.”
She says this continues the trend of declining trust.
“In 2023, we recorded the lowest levels of confidence in public institutions and political parties we had ever seen. The trend has continued.”
She says there is more variation in the public opinion about some of the key items on the GNU agenda.
Lefko-Everett says people are happy to see their political parties represented in Parliament, and the new coalition, which may result in more interest in the next year or two.