Zille unfazed by suggestion DA ministers could face consequences for National Dialogue withdrawal
On Monday, the Presidency said it would be viewed as insubordination if ministers who form part of the interministerial committee, like DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, refused to participate.
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- Final leg of national budget process in peril amid DA's plans to boycott budgets of compromised ministers
- ANC NWC resolved to not engage in tit-for-tat with DA over departments' budgets
- Withdrawal from National Dialogue likely to see Steenhuisen in hot water
The DA's federal executive did an about-turn on the National Dialogue over the weekend, following Andrew Whitfield's axing as deputy minister and in response to compromised African National Congress (ANC) ministers not being removed from their positions.
Speaking to the media in Cape Town, Zille said she believed the dialogue would give rise to more corruption within the state.
Zille said the DA changed its tune about supporting a National Dialogue when it learnt of the estimated price tag of more than R700 million and after being ignored by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula when it requested an opportunity to make input on the format of the dialogue.
Zille claimed the dialogue will be used by the ANC for electioneering ahead of 2026's local government polls.
'We all know that is another way of tapping into state resources to give the contracts and the tenders to ANC cadres for the transport, for the catering, for the tents, for everything else. It will all enrich a few people.'
Asked about potential consequences for the DA if its executive members failed to get involved, Zille had this to say: 'Well, bring it on. What's he going to do to us for standing up against corruption? Bring it on.'
The party said the National Dialogue, which is set to start in August, has no constitutional standing to take or impose decisions, and its members in the executive can't be forced to participate.
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