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DA's failed ultimatum, Nkabane's future likely to feature on ANC NWC meeting's agenda

DA's failed ultimatum, Nkabane's future likely to feature on ANC NWC meeting's agenda

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s failed ultimatum and the fate of the higher education minister are likely to make it onto the African National Congress (ANC)'s national working committee (NWC) agenda when it meets on Monday afternoon.
This will be the first time the NWC sits since the DA threatened the Government of National Unity (GNU) and then backtracked, announcing it would, instead, not participate in the National Dialogue.
There have been a series of rocky patches in the coalition government, with the latest chapter being brought on by President Cyril Ramaphosa's sacking of Andrew Whitfield as the deputy minister of trade and industry.
READ MORE:
• Mbalula warns DA Ramaphosa won't tolerate disrespect from deputy ministers
• 'Don't test us': Zille warns Ramaphosa that tabling no-confidence motion in him not an idle threat
• 'Even if the DA walks away, GNU will not collapse' - ANC's Mbalula
While some in the ANC's NWC have already downplayed the impact of the latest spat between the former liberation party and its coalition partner, the DA, others are growing frustrated and want out.
Senior members of the ANC are likely to affirm Ramaphosa's decision, which has largely been questioned due to the timing of his firing of Whitfield.
EWN understands that the president acted with political expediency in mind, with growing pressure in some pockets of the ANC that remain opposed to the GNU.
Meanwhile, the fate of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is likely to also come under discussion, this as some in and out of the party call for her head.
ALSO READ:
• Nkabane says she's apologised to Motau for naming him in SETA selection panel without his knowledge
• 2 Parly committee chairpersons come out in defence of under fire Nkabane
• Parly committee concerned about being misled by Nkabane on SETA board selection panel
Insiders are of the belief that she too should have been sacked, while others want Parliament to complete its process before she gets the boot.
The minister stands accused of lying to Parliament about her independent panel and the SETA board appointments.
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24 hours in pictures, 1 July 2025
24 hours in pictures, 1 July 2025

The Citizen

timean hour ago

  • The Citizen

24 hours in pictures, 1 July 2025

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DA backs down on no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa amid tensions
DA backs down on no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa amid tensions

IOL News

time3 hours ago

  • IOL News

DA backs down on no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa amid tensions

DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille says her party will abandon tabling the motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa "for now". Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers The (DA) has reversed its decision to pursue a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa, amid ongoing tensions between the party and the ANC. 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. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 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.

Top 10 stories of the day: Fuel price hike
Top 10 stories of the day: Fuel price hike

The Citizen

time3 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Top 10 stories of the day: Fuel price hike

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