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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
15 minutes ago
- IOL News
Tshwane's cleansing charge set to begin amid legal challenges
The City of Tshwane's disputed cleansing charge is slated to kick in on July 1, 2025, despite AfriForum's ongoing legal challenge against it. Image: Helenus Kruger / City of Tshwane The City of Tshwane's contentious cleansing charge is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, in the face of AfriForum's ongoing legal challenge against it. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment and Agriculture Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, confirmed that the City's cleaning charge will proceed, saying it will enable the City to provide and enhance waste management services for all residents. The new levy targets gated communities and shopping malls that do not have existing city waste accounts but use private waste collection services, charging a monthly tariff of R194. AfriForum slammed the City of Tshwane's proposed cleansing levy, deeming it unlawful due to double taxation and claiming it would further burden residents. The DA in Tshwane has also voiced opposition to the proposed levy, labelling it as just another tax burden on the city's residents who are already overtaxed. Ramabodu said: 'Municipalities in South Africa provide essential public services, including refuse removal, street cleaning, and urban hygiene, typically funded through tariffs charged to residents and businesses. One such charge is the City cleansing charge.' He clarified that the levy covers the costs of waste-related services, including collecting, transporting, and disposing of litter and refuse from public areas. 'The City of Tshwane cleansing charge as approved by Council will come into effect on July 1, 2025. The charge will assist the City to provide and improve waste management services to all residents in the City,' he said. According to him, the City has a constitutional mandate under Section 156(1)(a) and Schedule 4 Part B of the South African Constitution to manage functions like cleansing and waste removal. He acknowledged that some civil organizations, such as AfriForum, have expressed disapproval and taken legal action against the City's cleansing charge by approaching the North Gauteng High Court to have it overturned. Ramabodu said the stance by AfriForum is regrettable and inexcusable. He added that the City remains committed to its mandate of providing quality services to all residents and businesses, as required by the Constitution. 'In this context, the primary purpose of the city cleansing charge is to drive environmental objectives in line with environmental Legislation and the provision made by section 74 (2) (h) of Municipal System Act – and further ensure that the residents of Tshwane do benefit and live in a clean city,' he said. Ramabodu explained that certain areas, like Wonderpark Estate and shopping centers such as Menlyn Mall, are being targeted because they have multiple bins but only pay for one, despite disposing of waste at city landfills through private waste collection services. Deidré Steffens, AfriForum's local government affairs advisor, said AfriForum had done everything possible to avoid a legal dispute from the start. 'We approached the metro shortly after the council announced the plans for the levy in March this year and stressed that implementing it would result in an unfair double tax,' he said. [email protected]
IOL News
16 minutes ago
- IOL News
Political tensions rise as Helen Zille defends DA's stance in GNU
Helen Zille defends DA's withdrawal from the National Dialogue, slamming Ramaphosa's unilateral decisions and accusing the ANC of ignoring coalition protocols set out in the Government of National Unity agreement. Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal Executive Chairperson Helen Zille has defended her party's decision not to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) despite growing tensions with the African National Congress (ANC), accusing the governing party of treating its coalition partner with 'disrespect' and 'double standards'. In an interview with 702, Zille said the DA's decision to withdraw from the National Dialogue and to vote against budget allocations for departments headed by "compromised ministers" is a "commensurate" and serious response to what she described as unilateral decisions by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 'The President showed hypocrisy, double standards and a lack of respect for his coalition partner by unilaterally firing a deputy minister. And we've got to say we won't be treated like that,' she said. Zille criticised the dismissal of DA's former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield over an unauthorised US trip, defending the visit as a private, party-funded mission to engage US officials on trade relations and AGOA. She argued that Whitfield had written to the President, and despite not needing formal permission under the ministerial handbook for non-official trips, received no reply. 'Surely the president can say, no, you can't go, but he never responded. Till today, he's got no answer to that letter except being fired,' Zille said. She accused the ANC of ignoring the coalition's Statement of Intent, saying the President had violated clauses that require consensus for major government decisions, such as the National Dialogue initiative. 'They simply go and announce what it is with some kind of imminent persons group, to which we've never agreed. So they continue governing as if they are the only party in government. ''And everybody else must behave and fall in line. They did not get an overall majority. We are their biggest coalition partner,'' she said. Zille rejected suggestions that the DA is backing down on its red lines, saying the party is prioritising national stability over political theatrics. 'We're not going to lie there like a sacrificial lamb taking a bullet. We're going to fight back,' she said. 'We won't do the ANC any favours to turn around and look at a decimated economy, and give the president the pleasure of saying, this was the DA's fault.' She rejected the idea that the DA is posturing without follow-through, noting that they had indeed drawn a line by withdrawing from the National Dialogue. 'We made threats of withdrawing from the National Dialogue, and we did. We absolutely did. And now you can have a completely useless National Dialogue because, without us, without nearly 25% of the country, many other people are going to boycott it as well. ''They will have a completely useless National Dialogue. It will be a meaningless, hollow gesture,'' said Zille. Zille said the DA would continue to oppose budget votes for ministers like Thembi Simelane, and Nobuhle Nkabane, whom she accused of misconduct and lying to Parliament. ''Nkabane lied to Parliament. That's probably the gravest thing you can do in a democracy,' she said. So that is why we're voting against her . ''And then Simelane, we know exactly what she did. She's now in human settlement. She used to be in justice, can you believe it or not? And she is found linked to the VBS looting. So they've done terrible things. And we are going to vote against them to show our displeasure.'' Despite repeated disagreements with the ANC, Zille said walking away from the GNU would cause national instability, job losses, and economic collapse. ''Let's make no mistake about it. If we walk out of the GNU, the Rand will fall massively in value. There will be more unemployed people. The consequences will be catastrophic for the country.' ''We're going to walk away when the president fires us. We're not going to do him any favours or the ANC any favours to turn around and to look at a decimated economy, and give the president the pleasure of saying, this was the DA's fault.' Zille confirmed the DA has not yet resolved to table a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa but warned that such decisions would be guided by future developments and the broader consequences for the country. 'We will take that decision on the basis of understanding what the consequences will be for the country.'' Zille said the ANC must learn to work collaboratively in government, adding, 'They did not get an overall majority.' [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
IOL News
32 minutes ago
- IOL News
BLSA CEO warns: US tariffs and GNU challenges threaten South Africa's economy
Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso has warned that South African exports to the United States could soon face tariffs of up to 30% Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso has warned that South African exports to the United States could soon face tariffs of up to 30% if a key trade deal is not renewed. IOL previously reported that last month, US President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on all imports to the US, along with additional "reciprocal tariffs" for several countries, including a 30% tariff on South African goods. However, he later paused these higher tariffs for 90 days for most countries, except China. Earlier this year, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen also conceded that the future of South Africa's trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) remains uncertain, saying the government was 'hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.' Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's diplomatic efforts, including a high-level meeting with US President Donald Trump, aimed at easing tensions and strengthening trade ties between the two nations. "When we approached the subject of AGOA, it was made very clear that it is a creature of Congress and that we would have to engage with Congress, my personal view is that AGOA may still be on the boil but it is going to be different from the AGOA we know from the past," Steenhuisen said. In her weekly newsletter on Monday, Mavuso warned that the expiry of the current trade arrangement could seriously disrupt the country's export momentum. "Earlier this year, confidence was building—you could feel it in boardrooms and investment committee meetings. Then the global trade environment shifted dramatically," Mavuso said. "The looming expiration of the current 10% tariff arrangement on July 9 could see South African exports to the US facing 30% tariffs, fundamentally altering trade flows and forcing rapid strategic adjustments". Mavuso also pointed to challenges within the Government of National Unity (GNU), noting delays in Eskom's restructuring and the lack of focused attention on key logistics corridors. "Eskom's restructuring has hit unexpected delays in key areas, and our logistics corridors still aren't receiving the focused attention they desperately need" While government and business have committed to short-term reform 'sprints,' Mavuso said success will depend on effective execution. 'The proof will be in execution.' On political dynamics, she described the GNU's political uncertainty as its 'Achilles heel,' warning that tensions among coalition partners risk undermining investor confidence and delaying reforms. 'When political survival takes precedence over governance, everyone loses.' she added. IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
