DA Leader Rejects Budget Speech: Is the Party Pulling Away from the GNU?

Tensions are rising within South Africa’s political landscape following the delivery of the 2025/26 Budget Speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen, has made it clear that the DA will not be supporting the budget as it was delivered, sparking speculation about the party’s future within the Government of National Unity (GNU).

In a dramatic turn of events, Steenhuisen walked out of the National Assembly before the session was officially adjourned, a move widely interpreted as a bold statement of disapproval. While no formal announcement has been made regarding the DA's withdrawal from the GNU, the party's stance raises serious questions about its continued participation in the unity government.

“This budget fails to address the structural issues facing South Africa’s economy and continues to burden citizens with more taxes while offering no real plan for growth,” Steenhuisen said prior to his walkout.

The DA is not alone in its opposition. Other parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have also voiced strong objections, arguing that the budget lacks tangible solutions for economic recovery, job creation, and poverty alleviation. Critics argue that the budget disproportionately affects working-class South Africans, despite adjustments to social grants and VAT zero-rated items.

The resistance from key political players could signal deeper divisions within the GNU, which was formed as a multiparty consensus effort to stabilise governance and rebuild the economy.

As public debate intensifies, all eyes are now on the DA's next move—will it stay in the GNU and fight from within, or is this the beginning of a political realignment in South Africa’s coalition dynamics?