In an unprecedented development the Democratic Alliance became the target of opposition criticism during debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The opposition party now part of the governing coalition led by the African National Congress was among others accused of openly supporting and promoting the years-long misinformation campaign by among others right-wing group Afriforum that falsely claimed mass killings of white people were being carried out in South Africa as part of government backed land grabs.
The DA, the second biggest party in the Government of National Unity has already filed papers in court challenging the Expropriation Act alleging it gives the government too much power and could be used to carry out apartheid style land dispossession.
Opposition parties and ANC MPs used their slots in the debate to call out the DA’s perceived disloyalty with some likening its actions to treason.
ATM Leader Vuyo Zungula was among those who questioned the ANC’s inclusion of right-wing parties in the GNU saying a coalition with like-minded parties would allow for expropriation of land.
“Let us unite to expropriate the land our ancestors were forcefully removed from,” said Zungula .
“ Like Honourable John Steenhuisen, they all speak as if everything is new. They are not in the habit of giving credit where it is due. It is not in their nature to acknowledge work done by others, simply because they are obsessed with claiming easy victories.
They do not value knowledge development. Plagiarism and data integrity are not taught at a basic education level yet,” said deputy minister of public works Sihle Zikalala in response to criticism by DA Leader John Steenhuisen.
“Mr President, you chose to lead with people who want to maintain the status quo because you are bullied. You chose to lead with those who write letters to America and tell on you, like you’re a little child that requires supervision because you are bullied,” said EFF MP Naledi Chirwa questioning the ANC’s choice of coalition partners.
EFF leader Julius Malema said it was not enough for the president to merely assert that South Africa will not be bullied following threats and attacks by US President Donald Trump. Malema challenged Ramaphosa to use his reply to the debate on Thursday to respond more boldly to Trump and others in the international community who have criticised South Africa for its planned land exploration and continued support for Palestine.
Despite continued frustration the ANC has not hinted at reviewing its collaboration with the right.