The former ANC Secretary-General and current leader of the African Congress of Transformation (ACT), Ace Magashule, has labelled the recently formed Government of National Unity as the “government of betrayal”.

Magashule made these remarks after appearing in the Free State High Court regarding the controversial R255 million asbestos roofing project. Magashule’s and 18 other accused’s court trial was postponed to 15 April 2025 and will run until 23 June 2025, as the trial coincided with a significant event in the Free State Legislature.

His absence from the inauguration of the new Free State Premier, MaQueen Letsoha Mathae, and the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the 7th administration, was quite notable. Magashule responded to questions about his absence from the legislature by blaming electoral fraud.

‘It’s time black people and African people must open their eyes’

“How do I go to the legislature when elections have been rigged?” he retorted, addressing the media outside the courthouse. Magashule accused the ruling party of manipulating the 2024 national elections and asserted that his party, alongside over 20 other political entities, would challenge the results in court.

“Elections have been rigged, and we are going to court with many other parties, more than 20 parties. South Africans, they know, and that’s why they are now forming a government of national betrayal. They have betrayed our people. So it’s time that black people and African people must realise and open their eyes,” he said.

Magashule did not limit his critique to alleged electoral fraud. He also condemned the current government’s handling of various crises, predicting a return of severe load-shedding, water shortages, and economic difficulties under the GNU.

‘I’m sure even Covid will come back’

“Load-shedding is coming back, water-shedding is coming back, and retrenchments are coming back. The mines are retrenching, and unemployment and poverty are rising. Our people are going to become more hungry. I’m sure even Covid will come back,” he stated, painting a grim picture of the nation’s future under the current administration.

This follows weeks of speculation about who the ANC would partner with after losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years in last month's elections. The ANC and its main opposition, the DA finally, agreed to form a government of national unity, along with two smaller opposition parties. The ANC and the DA signed a framework agreement to form a government of national unity (GNU), which will include IFP.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg