Amid tensions in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday reiterated its commitment to growing the economy and creating jobs, but wants GNU partner the African National Congress (ANC) to express its own commitment to sharing power.

Following the passing of the Budget in March, the GNU has been rocked by threats of reconstitution, with the ANC, DA and other parties at loggerheads over the value-added tax (VAT) increase.

Last week, GNU partners the Inkatha Freedom Party and the ANC voted for ActionSA's recommendations that supported the fiscal framework, including a VAT increase, without an amendment. ActionSA said it chose to recommend changes to the fiscal framework rather than amend it outright because an amendment would have required the Minister of Finance to redo the entire Budget process.

DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille filed papers in the Western Cape High Court to challenge the legality of the Budget process, seeking an interdict to stop the South African Revenue Service from implementing the VAT hike on May 1.

The DA accused ActionSA of selling out South Africans while the DA was accused of grandstanding.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Monday that the party was “deeply concerned” by the conduct of the DA, whose participation in the GNU, he averred, had been "marred by double-dealing, negotiating and acting in bad faith, and open disdain for transformation".

However, DA leader John Steenhuisen hit back and said his party's aim was to join the GNU to grow South Africa’s economy.

“To achieve this, the ANC must now demonstrate that it is equally committed to the spirit and substance of sharing power, which is a natural consequence of the last election. The electorate sent a clear message: single party rule is over and no one party gets to dictate our policy direction,” he said.

The DA wanted shared governance over political convenience, said Steenhuisen, with pro-growth reforms.

He said the party had presented Cyril Ramaphosa with practical fiscal solutions that were ready to be implemented.

“We look forward to discussing a clear reform agenda for growth and jobs with the ANC,” said Steenhuisen.

He added that the DA had remained consistent, in and out of government, on its position that there should not be a VAT increase and he denied the ANC’s claims that the party had lobbied for support on this outside of the GNU.

Steenhuisen instead accused the ANC of doing just this, and of “defining itself outside the GNU” by supporting ActionSA’s fiscal framework recommendations.

ActionSA said it noted media reports arising from the ANC’s National Working Committee meeting held on Monday night, which suggested a move to reconstitute the GNU to include ActionSA.

However, ActionSA president Herman Mashaba has affirmed that his party would not give any consideration to the proposal of reconstituting the GNU to include ActionSA until the issues of the VAT increase and income tax bracket creep have been resolved.