GNU tensions boiling over
The DA has withdrawn from the National Dialogue and vowed to vote against budgets for corruption-accused ANC Ministers.
WATCH: Discussion | Political expert unpacks the future of the GNU
This comes after President Ramaphosa removed DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, citing an unauthorised trip.
The DA says the move was political and now threatens a motion of no confidence against the president, if things don't change.
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eNCA
4 minutes ago
- eNCA
DA accuses ANC of double standards
JOHANNESBURG- Political drama is heating up in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The DA says the ANC is playing favourites by firing Deputy Minister, Andrew Whitfield but letting Minister Nobuhle Nkabane off the hook despite serious allegations. On Tuesday, the DA hit back by laying charges against Nkabane for allegedly spinning a web of lies about an independent panel that greenlit political appointments to SETA boards. With budget votes on the horizon, the DA is gearing up to call out corruption where they see it. Political analyst, Ntsikelelo Breakfast says the DA wants to expose how President Cyril Ramaphosa according to them was applying double standards. "On the one hand the President dismisses on of [DA's own] for not getting approval for a trip he was not ment to undertake, but on the other hand turns a blind eye to some of the members of the executive who have been at fault," he said. While Breakfast says he sympathies with the DA, he disagrees with the party on how they have responded to this matter in terms of their announcements of pulling out from the National Dialogue.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Ithala Bank's future uncertain despite ANC's claims of victory
Despite ANC's announcement, the future of Ithala Bank is yet to be confirmed, as the provincial government has not been informed that it has been saved from liquidation. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers The future of Ithala Bank still remains unclear as KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli says he was unaware of the developments announced by the ANC that it has successfully engaged with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who agreed to save the bank from liquidation. Provincial Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee Mafika Mndebele also expressed uncertainty about the bank's survival as it remained unclear whether it would be granted an exemption to continue operating. The ANC created a sense of relief after its announcement that it had engaged with Godongwana, who agreed to intervene and save the bank from being wiped off through liquidation. However, Ntuli told the media in an interview this week that his office was not aware of the positive developments announced by the ANC. Ntuli and the ANC were among many who were concerned about the South African Reserve Bank (SARB)'s Prudential Authority (PA) suspending the operation of the bank and freezing depositors' money pending the final liquidation court order. 'One is not aware of the new developments except that we are in court with both the PA and Repayment Authority (RA), as you will recall that Judge Mncube of the High Court KZN issued a judgment saying the PA and RA have no authority in the affairs of Ithala. 'They (PA and RA) appealed, and we are looking forward to the Supreme Court of Appeal, and in July, we will be in the Pietermaritzburg High Court again in the liquidation matter. That is the only information we know,' said Ntuli. He said the provincial government was continuing to engage President Cyril Ramaphosa and Godongwana. 'We have done everything to ensure that the PA and RA's hands are off Ithala. 'We are not aware, therefore, of the development; however, we continue to engage for the interest of the depositors and the institution,' said Ntuli. Godongwana had previously announced that he had made R2 billion available to protect the interests of depositors whose savings would be wiped out by the liquidation. 'As the custodian of depositors, I have taken a view that I should protect particularly those who have made savings between R100,000 and lower, and I have made available an amount of about R2 billion to ensure that whatever happens, their savings are protected,' said previously to the media. The ANC provincial convener, Jeff Radebe, told the media last week that he and the party's provincial coordinator, Michael Mabuyakhulu, engaged with Godongwana and reached an agreement that the bank will not be liquidated and the minister would fully guarantee all depositors. 'Our intervention was firmly aligned with the ANC's developmental agenda and our responsibility to protect institutions that uplift the people. 'We are pleased to report that, following these engagements, a breakthrough was reached: Ithala Bank will not be liquidated,' said Radebe in a statement. Mndebele said Mabuyakhulu briefed him about at least three engagements between the ANC and Godongwana. 'He (Mabuyakhulu) has reported that there will be money set aside for depositors to be guaranteed about their money. 'But as things stand, whether that would save Ithala from liquidation or not is another debate because, besides the issue of guarantors, there are other things that have been key in putting Ithala in the situation that it is in right now,' said Mndebele. He said the committee understood that the main issue was that Ithala be granted a banking licence 'because without a banking licence, it cannot be a bank right now'. 'While applying for the banking licence, Ithala must be given an exemption by the minister so that it could be able to operate. 'The RA and PA must then withdraw the case for liquidation because the case is still on. 'Engagement with the minister is necessary as the minister can play a key role in addressing these challenges,' he said. Mndebele said Mabuyakhulu promised to have another engagement with him 'so that we will do everything we can to deal with the matter'. He said he would not rush to brief the provincial Parliament about what Mabuyakhulu told him until Godongwana makes a public announcement. He said the portfolio committee should be briefed by the Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department if there are any developments on the matter, 'because we play an oversight role over the department'. 'During our interaction with the department, the department furnished me with a report, which, when I look at it, suggests that Ithala is still in court fighting against its liquidation,' said Mndebele. Following the ANC's announcement, Cosatu expressed relief that the move, which the ANC announced, will save more than 400 jobs that were on the brink of being wiped off. 'It is critical that the Prudential Authority, Treasury, and the KZN provincial government work together to strengthen governance and internal controls, enhance compliance with banking regulations, and launch a turnaround strategy focused on accountability, transparency, and performance,' said the federation's national spokesperson, Zanele Sabela. 'The federation was also concerned about the impact the closure would have on Ithala's more than 257,000 depositors, who were workers and grant recipients,' said Sabela. [email protected]
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
DA backtracks on motion of no confidence, commits to GNU
DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille says her party will abandon tabling the motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa "for now". Image: Cindy Waxa / Independent Newspapers The DA has backtracked on its threat to implement a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa, despite tensions between the two parties. DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille confirmed on Tuesday that her party would not be proceeding with the motion "for now", but emphasised that they would not be bullied by the ANC within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Experts have viewed the move by the DA leader as "grandstanding" and "seeking attention" because the party knows that they can't afford to leave the GNU. The DA and the ANC have been at loggerheads since the axing of Trade and Industry deputy minister Andrew Whitfield last week, resulting in the DA announcing that it would be withdrawing from the National Dialogue. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The party has since accused Ramaphosa of double standards, saying that he condoned corruption after he became mum following the DA's calls to fire Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. Nkabane is embroiled in the appointment of boards for Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). Political analysts have weighed the situation, with some suggesting that the DA is grandstanding with their threats. Professor Sipho Seepe said that the DA is grandstanding and that the market would quickly self-correct if the rand were to crash. "The DA likes grandstanding. Yes, the rand may crash, but the market will quickly self-correct. "Having said this, the ANC is unlikely to kick the DA out of the GNU. The GNU is big business. The very big business had funded Ramaphosa's presidency. Ramaphosa is unlikely to bite the hand that feeds him," Seepe said. He said the DA hated the idea of the ANC, EFF, and the MK Party government so much that it would rather stick it out. "Besides, the decision to walk out of the GNU will be dictated by big business, not Helen Zille…The same applies to the idea of tabling the motion of no confidence… Such a step would leave the ANC with no option but to kick the DA out of this marriage of inconvenience. It is a gamble that many in the DA would frown upon," Seepe said. Another analyst, Sandile Swana, said Zille's reasons for staying in the GNU were arbitrary and not scientifically grounded. "The DA has not been able to grow the economy by more than 2% in the Western Cape. They have lingered around 2% but it was required to grow at 5.4%. The DA has governed the Western Cape and Cape Town for some time. There is increased unemployment in the province and the metro, more than in any other province in the country. "The DA and big business are using the GNU to prevent the MKP and the EFF from being part of the government," Swana said. He said if an opportunity would present itself, the EFF would take up a place in the GNU and continue working with Ramaphosa as they did not agree that Ramaphosa handled the Phala Phala matter correctly. Zille said that while the DA has the numbers to potentially outvote the president, they would instead take intermediate steps to address their concerns. "The president can fire us from the GNU, and there are many people from the ANC wishing that he would fire us. But here is the thing, if he fires us the rand will crash, the economy will go into a tailspin, investors will withdraw, unemployment will increase, and we will probably be pushed out of AGOA and tariffs will go up." Zille, however, said that it did not mean that her party would be bullied by the ANC within the GNU and that they had a plan if Ramaphosa booted out the DA from the GNU.
