Latest news with #Mbalula
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
GNU will not collapse without DA
As the GNU marks one year, analysts eveal how collusions, fake promises, and ideological divides—especially between the ANC, DA, and excluded parties like the EFF—have complicated governance in a coalition government new to the nation. Image: IOL Graphic ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has responded to the Democratic Alliance's threats of exiting the Government of National Unity (GNU), cautioning that other parties were at the door, ready to join the government. Mbalula was addressing the third day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape over the weekend. 'The DA can pack their things and leave but on their way out, they will meet others coming in… 'Even if the DA walks away, the GNU will not collapse. Other [parties] are already knocking at the door to join GNU. The GNU is powerful, it finishes you without realising,' he said. Tensions within South Africa's GNU have escalated following the dismissal of Andrew Whitfield, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, amid allegations of an unauthorised international trip. President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to remove Whitfield, a senior DA member, triggered a swift response from the party.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Even if DA leaves, the GNU would never collapse: Fikile Mbalula
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has issued a stern warning to the DA, saying if it proceeds with a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa it will signal the end of their relationship in the government of national unity (GNU). DA leader John Steenhuisen threatened to table the motion, citing Ramaphosa's alleged failure to act against corruption and wrongdoing within the ANC. This comes after Ramaphosa's recent axing of the DA's former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who allegedly undertook an unauthorised trip to the US. Briefing the media on the sidelines of the third day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, Mbalula dismissed the DA's threats. 'If they propose a motion of no confidence, it means they're out of the GNU,' Mbalula said. 'We're behind the president and we are not moved by any threats, including ultimatums. Government is not run by ultimatums. They must learn to speak to us properly, not through ultimatums. You can't give an ultimatum to a person when you serve in his executive.' He said the DA is free to leave the GNU if it feels it doesn't serve its interests. 'They have a choice to leave if they feel the GNU doesn't serve them. We also have a choice to work with everyone for the interest of South Africans. It's not good for the economy that the DA wants to hold government to ransom, and when there are differences, they threaten to walk away. It's blackmail. You can't run a relationship on the basis of blackmail. You need to respect your partner. We are not respected. Every time there's a point of difference, they threaten to go.' The DA had issued Ramaphosa with a 48-hour ultimatum to act against corruption in his own ranks. After the ultimatum expired, Steenhuisen announced his party's withdrawal from the national dialogue with immediate effect. The DA also plans to vote against upcoming departmental budget votes for departments headed by corruption-accused ANC ministers. Mbalula defended Ramaphosa's decision to dismiss Whitfield. He stressed the ANC would not tolerate disrespect towards the president by deputy ministers. 'We are not married to the DA. We are in a coalition. We formed the coalition not because we are at their mercy but because we respected the outcome of the elections. That is why we have characterised this as a strategic setback. 'It is not a permanent feature. The GNU is not a melting pot. We did say there are 10 political parties in the GNU and the DA did not want this. I see why they did not want this as they wanted to squeeze us and put us in a corner, but we turned the tables around and put them in our own trap. Now they are in a deeper trap.' Mbalula also expressed confidence that the GNU would survive without the DA. 'Even if the DA leaves, the GNU would never collapse. Others will come in. They're knocking hard on the door and want to get in.'
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Mbalula warns DA Ramaphosa won't tolerate disrespect from deputy ministers
JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned the Democratic Alliance (DA) that President Cyril Ramaphosa will not sit back and tolerate disrespect from deputy ministers. The two parties have been at loggerheads due to the sacking of Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister of trade, industry and competition. Whitfield was fired last week after embarking on an unauthorised international trip. ALSO READ: - 'Even if the DA walks away, GNU will not collapse' - ANC's Mbalula - ANC calls on DA to clarify if it wants to stay in GNU or return to opposition party role - Andrew Whitfield axing: DA's John Steenhuisen feels disrespected by President Ramaphosa This has angered the DA, with the party giving the president a 48-hour ultimatum to reinstate Whitfield. To some, it comes as no surprise that the ANC and DA find themselves in yet another political standoff. The latest fallout has led the DA to threaten a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa and to boycott the National Dialogue. The party has also warned it may withhold support for the budgets of ministers accused of corruption. But Mbalula said that the DA should know better than to disrespect a sitting president. "The president will not sit back and tolerate disrespect from deputy ministers. Nelson Mandela fired his own wife from Cabinet for a similar offence. So, who does Andrew Whitfield think he is?" Mbalula insists the Government of National Unity (GNU) will remain intact even if the DA decides to walk away.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mbalula dares DA to 'pack its bags' and leave the GNU if it wants
Mbalula said the DA cannot hold government to ransom. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has dared the DA to 'pack its bags' and leave the government of national unity (GNU), as President Cyril Ramaphosa remains resolute in not reneging on his decision to fire Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield. Whitfield was axed after he made an unsanctioned trip to the United States. Mbalula made the remarks at the OR Tambo regional elective conference in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. DA ultimatums He was responding to the DA's latest threats of withdrawing from the National Dialogue and resolving to vote against departmental budgets for what it termed 'corrupt ANC ministers.' DA leader John Steenhuisen announced the move on Saturday, warning that leaving the GNU would create a 'coalition of chaos', signalling the party's growing frustration with Ramaphosa's leadership. 'Bad behaviour' However, Mbalula said if the DA exits the GNU, they would encounter other parties willing to join the GNU. 'The president is dealing with bad behaviour in his Cabinet. John Steenhuisen called that press briefing, thinking we would reconsider, but the president is not going to change his mind. That guy [Whitfield] must pack his bags and go because he was exceptionally disrespectful. 'Now he [Steenhuisen] is saying they won't participate in the National Dialogue, the dialogue doesn't depend on the DA, it belongs to South Africans,' Mbalula said. WATCH: Fikile Mbalula speaking about the DA's threats [WATCH] If they propose a motion of no confidence on the President then it will mean they are out of the GNU. #ANC7thRegionalConference#ANCRenewal#ThePeoplesMovement — ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 29, 2025 ALSO READ: 'Greatest political mistake': Steenhuisen says Ramaphosa firing Whitfield was a 'calculated assault' 'Pack their bags' Mbalula said the DA was free to leave the GNU if it wanted, adding that the party's behaviour was precisely why the ANC opted for a GNU and not a grand coalition. 'They can pack their bags if that is what they want. The door is wide open, and as they leave, they will bump into other parties waiting to join the GNU. 'The government would have long collapsed, but now, even if the DA leaves, the government won't collapse because other parties are knocking on the door,' Mbalula said. Motion of no confidence Mbalula said that if the DA proposes a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa, then it will mean they are out of the GNU. 'We are behind the president, and at the same time, we are not moved by any threat, including ultimatums. Government is not run by ultimatums. If you respect each other, you must learn to speak properly through us, not through ultimatums. ALSO READ: The DA can walk away from GNU, says Mbalula 'You can't give an ultimatum to a person whom you serve in his executive, they have a choice if they think that this government of national unity doesn't serve them well. They have a choice to leave. So they have a choice to stay, and we also have a choice to work with everyone for the interest of the people of South Africa,' Mbalula said. Holding government to ransom Mbalula said the DA cannot hold the government to ransom. 'It is not good for the economy that the DA want to hold the government to ransom. At times, when there is a difference, they threaten to walk away; it's blackmail. You can't run a relationship on the basis of blackmail, and you need to respect your partner,' Mbalula said. 'Here we are not being respected. Every time there is a point of difference, they threaten to go. There will be differences in this government of national unity, because we did not come here as like-minded political parties. Those things that unite us outweigh those that divide us. 'So it cannot be that once we differ on a single issue, including the removal of a deputy minister of an opposition in the GNU, then that party threatens to walk away and threatens with a motion of no confidence. Government is not run in that way,' said Mbalula. Mbalula has urged members of the GNU to set aside their political differences and stand together as one united front. ALSO READ: WATCH: ANC to decide on future of GNU on Monday, says Mashatile
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
GNU will not collapse without DA
As the GNU marks one year, analysts eveal how collusions, fake promises, and ideological divides—especially between the ANC, DA, and excluded parties like the EFF—have complicated governance in a coalition government new to the nation. ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has responded to the Democratic Alliance's threats of exiting the Government of National Unity (GNU), cautioning that other parties were at the door, ready to join the government. Mbalula was addressing the third day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape over the weekend. 'The DA can pack their things and leave but on their way out, they will meet others coming in… 'Even if the DA walks away, the GNU will not collapse. Other [parties] are already knocking at the door to join GNU. The GNU is powerful, it finishes you without realising,' he said. Tensions within South Africa's GNU have escalated following the dismissal of Andrew Whitfield, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, amid allegations of an unauthorised international trip. President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to remove Whitfield, a senior DA member, triggered a swift response from the party.
