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The Star
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
DA ministers face insubordination warning as tensions with ANC escalate
Siyabonga Sithole and Nicola Daniels | Published 1 day ago ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has challenged the DA to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) following the party's recent threat to boycott the upcoming National Dialogue. The confrontation between the two parties follows hot on the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent axing of former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who apparently undertook an unauthorised trip to the United States. DA leader John Steenhuisen, addressing the media on Saturday slammed Ramaphosa's decision to fire Whitfield, claiming it was indicative of the president's inconsistent approach to governance while also "threatening to destabilise the GNU unless all so-called delinquent ANC ministers are removed from their positions within 48 hours. When Ramaphosa ignored the DA's ultimatum, Steenhuisen announced that the DA would not participate in the National Dialogue and that it would vote against upcoming departmental budget votes for the departments headed by Minister Thembi Simelane, Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, and other corruption-accused ANC ministers. Speaking during the 3rd day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape yesterday, Mbalula said that the GNU is not a permanent feature but a temporary partnership among all the coalition parties. Mbalula stated that the ANC and Ramaphosa will not be bullied and disrespected by the DA and its leaders who continuously threaten to destabilse the GNU. "We are not at the mercy of the DA. We are in this coalition because we respected the outcomes of the elections and the interests of the people of South Africa. 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 that there are ten political parties in the GNU and the DA did not want this. Now, 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 we put them in our own trap. Now they are in a deeper trap," he added. Meanwhile DA ministers intending to boycott the National Dialogue will have to provide Ramaphosa with valid reasons for their non-attendance or their absence will be regarded as insubordination, says the Presidency. The Inter-Ministerial Committee(IMC) on the National Dialogue appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa includes DA leader John Steenhuisen as Agriculture Minister. 'Any member of Cabinet who wishes to no longer participate in the IMC will have to provide reasons to the President. Hopefully, they'll also think about the consequences of such insubordination. Because that's how the President will regard any non-participation as insubordination," said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said. The ANC has weighed in on the DA's latest move, saying: "This response speaks volumes about the DA's character, they are willing to undermine national interests in pursuit of their narrow partisan agenda. "The ANC firmly believes that this dialogue is not merely an event, it is a critical process in pursuit of social compacting, unity, and national renewal. At this juncture, it is imperative for the DA to clarify its stance: is it a genuine and principled partner in the GNU, or is it positioning itself as a quasi-opposition within the executive.' The National Dialogue aims to address South Africa's ongoing challenges, such as poverty, crime, inequality and unemployment, which continue despite 30 years of democracy. University of the Free Political Studies and Governance lecturer Sanet Solomon said the DA's moves in the GNU could damage its supporter base. "The DAs decision to withdraw itself from the National Dialogue sends a message to its supporters that it is 'actively standing up' against the ANC and that it is not passively going along with all its decisions. This display of ' showmanship' is just a façade as the party cannot leave the GNU without damaging its support base. 'Post May-2024 it (the DA) tried convincing voters that allying with the GNU would result in better governance and a reduction in corruption. Should it leave the GNU now, its voting base might revert to the FF+, the Good Party, the Patriotic Alliance and others as they may believe that the DA cannot co-govern with others. Should the DA stay, it would be stuck trying to convince its supporters that it has influence in the GNU's decision-making. Either way, they are stuck in a catch-22," said Solomon. Efforts to reach both DA spokespeople, Willie Aucamp and Karabo Khakhau were unsuccessful yesterday. THE MERCURY
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.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC won't be bullied by ‘small boy' of the DA, says Mbalula
ANC secretary general has slammed the DA saying they can leave the GNU if they wanted to. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has warned the DA that the ANC and its President Cyril Ramaphosa will not be bullied and disrespected by its leaders who continuously threaten to destabilise the Government of National Unity (GNU). Speaking during the 3rd day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, Mbalusa said that the GNU was not a permanent feature but a temporary partnership among all the coalition parties. "When the Government of National Unity was formed with the ten political parties, it was not a permanent feature. So, we will not allow our President to be disrespected by his deputy ministers. Even Nelson Mandela fired his own wife. My mother Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela Mandela. Mandela took her out of the cabinet. 'Thabo Mbeki as president also did the same when he fired Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. We can't then be disrespected by a small boy who is being protected by the DA. We are not in a marriage with the DA but we are in a coalition," he said.
TimesLIVE
2 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.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA ministers face insubordination warning as tensions with ANC escalate
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula says the DA can withdraw from the Government of National Unity. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has challenged the DA to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) following the party's recent threat to boycott the upcoming National Dialogue. The confrontation between the two parties follows hot on the heels of President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent axing of former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, who apparently undertook an unauthorised trip to the United States. DA leader John Steenhuisen, addressing the media on Saturday slammed Ramaphosa's decision to fire Whitfield, claiming it was indicative of the president's inconsistent approach to governance while also "threatening to destabilise the GNU unless all so-called delinquent ANC ministers are removed from their positions within 48 hours. When Ramaphosa ignored the DA's ultimatum, Steenhuisen announced that the DA would not participate in the National Dialogue and that it would vote against upcoming departmental budget votes for the departments headed by Minister Thembi Simelane, Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, and other corruption-accused ANC ministers. Speaking during the 3rd day of the OR Tambo Regional Conference in the Eastern Cape yesterday, Mbalula said that the GNU is not a permanent feature but a temporary partnership among all the coalition parties. Mbalula stated that the ANC and Ramaphosa will not be bullied and disrespected by the DA and its leaders who continuously threaten to destabilse the GNU. "We are not at the mercy of the DA. We are in this coalition because we respected the outcomes of the elections and the interests of the people of South Africa. That is why we have characterised this as a strategic setback. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ "It is not a permanent feature. The GNU is not a melting pot. We did say that there are ten political parties in the GNU and the DA did not want this. Now, 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 we put them in our own trap. Now they are in a deeper trap," he added. Meanwhile DA ministers intending to boycott the National Dialogue will have to provide Ramaphosa with valid reasons for their non-attendance or their absence will be regarded as insubordination, says the Presidency. The Inter-Ministerial Committee(IMC) on the National Dialogue appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa includes DA leader John Steenhuisen as Agriculture Minister. 'Any member of Cabinet who wishes to no longer participate in the IMC will have to provide reasons to the President. Hopefully, they'll also think about the consequences of such insubordination. Because that's how the President will regard any non-participation as insubordination," said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said. The ANC has weighed in on the DA's latest move, saying: "This response speaks volumes about the DA's character, they are willing to undermine national interests in pursuit of their narrow partisan agenda. "The ANC firmly believes that this dialogue is not merely an event, it is a critical process in pursuit of social compacting, unity, and national renewal. At this juncture, it is imperative for the DA to clarify its stance: is it a genuine and principled partner in the GNU, or is it positioning itself as a quasi-opposition within the executive.' The National Dialogue aims to address South Africa's ongoing challenges, such as poverty, crime, inequality and unemployment, which continue despite 30 years of democracy.
