The African National Congress (ANC) has “categorically rejected” what it labels baseless claims by Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille regarding the party’s alleged role in shaping South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

This after Zille told the South Africa Chamber of Commerce UK that the DA was instructed by the business community to protect President Cyril Ramaphosa from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).

Zille claimed that the EFF and MKP were not suitable GNU partners because their presence would prompt large investors to leave the country.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday that his party viewed Zille’s claims not only as “false but deliberately misleading, aiming to distort historical facts and elevate her importance in national matters where they lack any foundational relevance”.

Mbalula said Zille’s repeated urge to interfere in the ANC’s internal affairs and her ongoing public attacks on Ramaphosa exposed a “shameless bid for power and influence”, which he said she had not earned and would not attain through continued reckless posturing.

“We see through these calculated attempts to undermine the ANC’s leadership. It is clear that Zille and her party seek only to weaken the ANC from within, hoping to gain what they cannot secure at the ballot box,” he averred.

Mbalula said the DA did not produce genuine criticism, but rather a “desperate grasp at relevance by a party failing to appeal to the vast majority of South Africans”.

He said the ANC did not need external figures to "prop up" its President.

“We stand as the legitimate representatives of our people, continuously renewing and strengthening our movement to uphold the will of the people,” he said.

Mbalula further stated that Zille’s claims of “introducing” public-private partnerships to South Africa were nothing short of ludicrous, stating that the ANC government had long pioneered cooperative projects that had led to significant milestones.

“…all achieved through effective planning and coordination under ANC leadership. To suggest otherwise is a transparent attempt to hijack the legacy of ANC-led governance for her party’s political gain,” Mbalula stated.

He said in her remarks, Zille exposed her agenda, to push herself into a position of “undue influence” within the GNU while undermining the ANC’s foundational role.

“We need to make it very clear, if the DA wants to leave the GNU, it is their call, they can leave tonight, they can leave tomorrow, anytime they want to leave or they wish to leave, they can go,” he said.

He said the ANC remained resolute in delivering on its commitments, including the National Health Insurance rollout, strengthening social cohesion through the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, and attracting investments.

Meanwhile, Mbalula said the ANC would meet with South African Communist Party (SACP) leadership to clarify whether recent statements made by the alliance partner reflected the official stance of the SACP or personal views of SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila.

Recent public statements by Mapaila appeared to challenge ANC leadership and particularly target Ramaphosa.

Mbalula pointed out that while the ANC respected the SACP as a key ally, the party believed that differences within the alliance should be managed internally “with the appropriate decorum, honouring shared history and revolutionary principles”.