DA promises to make the ANC’s life harder

The DA has told President Ramaphosa that it is slowly losing confidence in his ability, and will skip the upcoming National Dialogue and vote against several parliamentary Budgets. 

Earlier this week, President Ramaphosa removed Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, the DA’s Andrew Whitfield, from his position.

Whitfield was removed after failing to receive approval from the President to travel to the United States, which is standard for Ministers, even for personal matters.

Whitfield was part of a week-long trip to the US earlier this year. The DA said that this was done in his capacity as Eastern Cape party leader, not as a government representative.

Although Whitfield sent an official apology to the President, Ramaphosa issued a dismissal letter and invited the DA to submit a replacement for the role.

The Trade and Industry Portfolio was one of the main portfolios that the DA requested upon joining the GNU due to its importance to the economy.

The DA issued an ultimatum to the President to fire Ministers Thembi Simelane and Nobuhle Nkabane, Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, and other corruption-accused cabinet officials within 48 hours.

The removal of Whitfield is one of a growing list of fractions between the ANC and DA after they formed the Government of National Unity (GNU) last year.

The ANC lost its majority for the first time in the democratic era and formed the GNU with several other parties. Together, the ANC and DA hold about 85% of the total votes in the GNU.

The parties have already butted heads over several pieces of legislation including the National Health Insurance Act, the Expropriation Act and the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.

The DA’s position in the GNU came under severe scrutiny after it failed to support the first and second attempts at the 2025 Budget, which included VAT increases.

After a successful court case from the DA to stop the second budget, the two largest parties in the GNU and South Africa agreed to work together on the third budget, which is now going through parliament.

DA responds

After the DA’s 48-hour ultimatum timeline ended, the party held a press conference, in which it again threatened to leave the GNU.

The DA said that the ANC’s refusal to stop corruption in its ranks means the party will no longer attend the national dialogue event.

Ramaphosa announced the National Dialogue last month, which will be attended by several parts of society, and has faced extreme criticism for carrying an estimated cost of R700 million.

Steenhuisen said there is no point in engaging in an ANC-led National Dialogue as it fails to engage with fellow GNU members.

He added that the 2024 National Election was essentially a National Dialogue, where the public voted against an ANC majority.

Moreover, the party said it would actively try to prevent the National Dialogue until corrupt ANC ministers were removed.

The party will also vote against Budgets for the Departments led by corruption-accused Ministers. The overall budget process will remain unaffected.

Although the DA will not table a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa, it did warn the President that it is losing confidence over his ability to lead the country and will only make his life harder if its demands are not met.