ActionSA labels GNU’s tenure a 'failure'

ActionSA labels GNU's tenure a 'failure' ActionSA has launched a scathing assessment of the Government of National Unity (GNU), declaring its two-year tenure a failure that has yielded a bloated executive, record unemployment, and widespread institutional decay. Speaking on Thursday, ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip revealed the party's "GNU Performance Tracker", which gives government's overall performance an F rating, citing a severe lack of urgency, accountability, and results. Trollip heavily criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to expand the Cabinet rather than streamline State expenditure. The executive has grown to 32 Ministers and 43 Deputy Ministers. According to ActionSA, this "bloated executive" costs taxpayers R6-billion a year, with R600-million going to salaries for Ministers, Deputy Ministers and support staff; R350-million going to travel and accommodation expenses; and R4.5-billion for VIP protection services. Trollip argues that this massive financial investment has yielded zero returns, pointing to a string of recent ministerial scandals. He highlights a suspended Police Minister linked to institutional infiltration, a Higher Education Minister who lied to Parliament, and a Social Development Minister who concealed luxury SUV gifts. ActionSA also awarded the GNU an F for Ethical Leadership and Public Service. The party painted a grim picture of the country's economic trajectory, noting that the expanded unemployment rate has climbed to an historic 43.7%. The economic indicators highlight a deep-seated crisis, with 345 000 jobs lost in the first quarter of 2026 alone, 12-million total South Africans currently unemployed and 0.5% GDP growth in Q1 2026, following weak growth of 0.6% in 2024 and 1.1% in 2025. "These are not growth figures; these are stagnation figures," Trollip states, emphasising that South Africa requires sustained growth of 3% to 4% to curb joblessness. The category of Economic Growth received an F from ActionSA. While the party acknowledges isolated improvements, it rates Infrastructure for Trade and Transport a D. Trollip notes that the Cape Town and Durban ports remain among the worst-performing container hubs globally, and freight rail volumes sit well below State targets. He does, however, concede that Eskom's energy availability factor has improved, marking one year without loadshedding. "But we do not congratulate a fish for swimming," Trollip remarks. "We ask why it nearly drowned in the first place." Law and Order received an E grade. While the national murder rate has seen a slight decline, an average of 58 people are still killed every day, and gender-based violence remains a national crisis, Trollip says. He raises major concerns over recent revelations from the Madlanga Commission and Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, saying both probes exposed how deeply criminal syndicates have penetrated the top tiers of South African law-enforcement institutions.