South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) on Saturday announced its withdrawal from a national dialogue, after President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed one of its deputy ministers — a move that sparked tensions but did not lead to the party quitting the coalition government.
The move was confirmed by DA leader John Steenhuisen.
The national dialogue is a process launched by Ramaphosa to unite the country after last year’s election, which saw his African National Congress lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in three decades, forcing it to team up with the DA to form a government.
Ideologically Different
The two parties are far apart ideologically and have clashed repeatedly over the last year, as the DA has accused the ANC of acting against its interests and without proper consultation.
Steenhuisen said the DA federal executive had also considered tabling a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa, but decided against it.
However, he said the party was “in the process of losing confidence in his ability to act as a leader not of the ANC, but of the GNU (Government of National Unity)”.
Ramaphosa sacked deputy trade minister Andrew Whitfield this week over an unauthorised trip to the United States, and said the DA should nominate a replacement.
Ramaphosa Remains Firm
The president said in a statement that Whitfield had violated established practice for members of the national executive.
“Prior to the removal of Mr Whitfield, I informed Minister John Steenhuisen as the leader of the Democratic Alliance… and (told Steenhuisen) that I expect him to present to me for approval a replacement,” Ramaphosa said.
The former liberation movement and the pro-business DA are far apart ideologically and have clashed over this year’s budget and policies to address racial inequality.
But the ANC needs the support of at least one other big party to pass legislation, and the DA wants to show voters it can make a difference in the cabinet portfolios it secured by teaming up with the ANC.
Steenhuisen gave a speech in parliament on Thursday calling on Ramaphosa to fire corruption-implicated ANC officials in his cabinet instead of removing Whitfield, threatening unspecified consequences if Ramaphosa did not do so.
Ramaphosa said on Friday he would not yield to threats.
(With inputs from Reuters)
