ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said if the DA wants South Africa to function, they “will come to the party.”

The ANC was speaking to various government of national unity (GNU) partners in a bid to strengthen a coalition hurt by disagreements over the national budget.

The ANC and the DA leadership described as “constructive” weekend discussions to break the budget impasse and reconfigure the GNU.

The two parties met on Saturday, with DA federal council chair Helen Zille leading the DA delegation.

Committing to being part of the GNU since the fallout with the ANC over the failure to support the fiscal framework of the budget, Zille said the party was “committed to finding solutions in the best interests of South Africa”.

Mbalula told eNCA that the ANC passed the fiscal framework without the DA.

“We’ve got the bigger responsibility than the DA and everyone else to run this country, to lead as the leading party. Answers are expected from us, not from the DA they’ve got the luxury to want to punt political victory even where it is not needed.”

Mbalula said the ANC wants South Africa “to function.”