The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it’ll not leave the Government of National Unity, following the dismissal of the party’s Deputy Minister of the party’s Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield.
Whitfield was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, over an unsanctioned trip to the United States earlier this year.
Following his dismissal, the DA leader John Steenhuisen gave Ramaphosa 48hrs to fire Ministers and Deputy Ministers allegedly involved in corruption. The ultimatum however expired on Saturday, without Ramaphosa heeding to Steenhuisen threats.
Briefing the media in Cape Town, Steenhuisen said the party would boycott the National Dialogue, and not support departmental budgets of ministers allegedly accused of corruption or fraud.
“Until he (Cyril Ramaphosa) replaces words with action against corruption within his own ranks, the DA sees no further point in wasting our breath in endless talk shops with the ANC.
“For that reason, the Federal Executive of the DA has resolved to withdraw from the National Dialogue with immediate effect.
“In the absence of a President who is prepared to act against VBS looters and state capture accused sitting around his own Cabinet table, this Dialogue will be nothing more than a waste of time and money to distract from the ANC’s failures,” said Steenhuisen.
“In addition, Steenhuisen said the party will also mobilise against the National Dialogue, describing its R740 million budget as “obscene.”
This despite welcoming the announcement of the National Dialogue by Ramaphosa earlier this month.
Furthermore, Steenhuisen said the party didn’t’ rule out a motion of no-confidence in the president if he doesn’t take decisive steps against corruption.
“We understand the concerns that many South Africans have about what will follow once Ramaphosa is removed from office. However, I want to be honest that, in the DA’s view, the President is failing to uphold his word to act against corruption and fast becoming indistinguishable from the Radical Economic Transformation faction in his party. While the FedEx decided not to table a motion of no confidence at this stage, it is clear that the DA is in the process of losing confidence in his ability to act as a leader not of the ANC, but of the GNU of which we are the second largest component,” warned Steenhuisen.
