The dispute is another example of the African National Congress (ANC) allegedly seeking to undermine the Democratic Alliance (DA) inside the Government of National Unity (GNU), even while the two parties remain partners in national government.

According to the DA, ANC MPs have been meeting senior government officials before portfolio committee meetings, where officials allegedly provide information, documents, and political ammunition that can later be used against DA ministers in Parliament.

The DA argues that this blurs the line between party and state, as public servants are expected to act impartially rather than assist one political party against another.

The party says parliamentary replies show that at least 20 senior officials in the Department of Water and Sanitation attended 16 ANC study group meetings since the current parliamentary term began in mid-2024.

The DA claims this shows that senior officials are not only giving neutral technical briefings, but are being drawn into ANC political activity.

George Michalakis, the DA’s parliamentary leader, said the practice showed how deeply ANC political networks remained embedded in the state.

“This situation of officials attending ANC study groups is a depraved outcome of years of the ANC policy of ‘cadre deployment’ – these are in many cases ANC cadres deployed into government still, working for the ANC instead of being impartial to do what is best for the people of South Africa.”

One of the clearest flashpoints has been the Department of Basic Education, where DA minister Siviwe Gwarube has faced pressure from the ANC’s study group.

The DA has alleged that officials inside the department have been sharing internal information and documents with the ANC study group in an effort to frustrate Gwarube’s work and undermine her authority.

The ANC’s Basic Education Study Group has also publicly criticised Gwarube over senior appointments and has claimed credit for increasing parliamentary pressure on her.

The DA’s broader argument is that ANC study groups are being used as a parallel political channel to preserve ANC influence inside departments now led by DA ministers.

The party says the system allows the ANC to obtain inside information, frustrate reforms, and use parliamentary committees as pressure points against DA members of the executive.

Michalakis said: “We are the most vocal party in calling out corruption and maladministration from the ANC and others, wherever we find it.”

The dispute points to growing tensions inside the GNU, where parties that govern together nationally are still competing fiercely for control, influence, and political advantage inside the state.

Despite this, the DA has been cautious about using the leverage it now holds over the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa to call the ANC to order over its efforts to sabotage the DA in the GNU. The Common Sense has reported that the DA is under pressure from its donors to protect Ramaphosa from scrutiny and that its nature as a liberal democratic party is not to take the firmest possible action, and to shore up its influence in the government.