By localnew 
JOHANNESBURG, 12 December 2025 – President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) against attempts to weaken the country’s transformation agenda, saying such efforts will ultimately fail.
Speaking during the closing session of the ANC’s 5th National General Council (NGC) in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa reiterated the party’s commitment to the GNU while emphasising that participation in the coalition must not come at the expense of progressive policy goals.
Ramaphosa said some political parties within the GNU have tried to water down key transformation efforts, including policies on economic inclusion and social redress — goals that are constitutionally mandated and central to the ANC’s long-term vision.
He stressed that the GNU was a tactical response to a hung parliament rather than a shift away from the ANC’s foundational ideals. The NGC has tasked the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) with strengthening the ANC’s ability to drive its progressive policy agenda within the unity government, including continued action on jobs, poverty reduction, inequality, and the fight against crime and corruption.
Ramaphosa also emphasised that transformation policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and the National Health Insurance (NHI) must remain protected and advanced, even in the face of legal challenges or political pushback within the GNU.
Despite signs that public confidence in political institutions remains mixed, moderate support persists for major GNU policy priorities. However, economic hardship and inequality continue to pose significant challenges for national reconciliation and development.
Ramaphosa’s remarks reflect ongoing efforts by the ANC to balance coalition governance with its core transformation commitments as South Africa prepares for the 2026 local government elections.