'A great pity': Ramaphosa slams DA's national dialogue withdrawal
He was speaking at a joint media briefing with the President of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, on Friday, 4 July. Ramaphosa described the DA's decision to withdraw from the national dialogue as 'hypocrisy'. He said it demonstrated a lack of principle.
He said South Africans had called for a national conversation about the state of the country after 30 years of democracy. The head of the nation stressed that the dialogue is not a political platform but a collective discussion.
Ramaphosa criticised the DA's withdrawal, saying it made no sense and was contradictory. He added that many South Africans were appalled by the party's behaviour.
He expressed regret that the DA would deprive the people it represents of the opportunity to contribute to shaping the country's future.
The president said the national dialogue will look at the country's governance and economic growth. As well as other aspects such as cultural, sports, and science-related matters.
'And I can name them all so that I can wet their [The DA] appetite. So that their tongues hang out and see that they are going to miss the biggest show in South Africa by defining themselves outside of the national dialogue. What a great pity,' Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa added that he had anticipated the DA's withdrawal from the Government of National Unity (GNU) before the party pulled out of the national dialogue. This followed its member, Andrew Whitfield's axing from his position as deputy minister of trade and industry.
At a media briefing on Friday, 27 June, DA leader John Steenhuisen also accused the African National Congress (ANC) of abusing its power.
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