- The Democratic Alliance (DA) has withdrawn from the National Dialogue following a shock move by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who fired the DA’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
- However, party leader John Steenhuisen said they will not withdraw from the GNU
- The second-largest party in South Africa’s coalition government, the DA will vote against department budgets headed by “corrupt” ANC ministers
- The party considered tabling a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa but decided against it
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has officially withdrawn from South Africa’s National Dialogue, citing “disrespect” and a breakdown in GNU trust following Ramaphosa’s surprise dismissal of Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Whitfield.
“The Democratic Alliance cannot be part of a National Dialogue led by a president who unilaterally fires our Deputy Minister and retains ministers implicated in corruption,” DA leader John Steenhuisen said during a press briefing on Saturday.
Despite the fallout, the DA will remain in the Government of National Unity (GNU), a coalition that includes the ANC and other parties. However, Steenhuisen vowed that the party would vote against budget allocations for departments led by ANC ministers implicated in corruption.
Watch the DA’s full press briefing here: YouTube Live: DA Press Briefing
Why the DA pulled the plug on the National Dialogue
The DA’s Federal Executive met on Friday to decide the party’s response after Ramaphosa fired Whitfield for travelling to the United States without presidential approval.
“It is unprecedented in the history of our democracy that the exercise by the President of his constitutional prerogative… is met with such irresponsible and unjustifiable threats and ultimatums,” Ramaphosa stated in his official statement, issued Friday night.
Ramaphosa explained that Whitfield had violated executive rules, which were clearly communicated at the start of the 7th administration. He noted that Whitfield even submitted a “perfunctory letter of apology,” indicating he knew his actions contravened protocol.
Despite understanding the grounds for removal, Steenhuisen called it “an act of bad faith” that exposed a deeper pattern of “disrespect and unilateralism” within the GNU.
“We considered a motion of no confidence in the President,” Steenhuisen admitted, “but we believe South Africa cannot afford another political crisis that collapses the GNU.”
Ramaphosa cancels Spain trip amid rising tensions
The growing friction forced President Ramaphosa to cancel his planned trip to Spain and delegate International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola to attend on his behalf, underlining the seriousness of the internal rift.
For full background on Ramaphosa’s second term and GNU cabinet also read:
🔗 Cyril Ramaphosa Sworn In for Second Term
🔗 Meet the GNU Ministers Including DA’s John Steenhuisen
Social media reacts: “Tantrum or tactical withdrawal?”
X (formerly Twitter) erupted after the DA’s announcement:
▪️@tshidi_lee: “You CANNOT say you are undermined, make a threat and then all you do is pull out of the national dialogue.”
▪️@DavidMogashoa: “DA was okay with the National Dialogue… until their guy was dis’appointed.”
▪️@Rahul_AJ_1990: “So this is the ‘or else’? Withdrawing from the National Dialogue 🤣. Has zero effect on governance.”
GOOD party slams DA: “This is political theatre”
The GOOD Party issued a scathing response, accusing the DA of grandstanding:
“This latest tantrum… is not a principled stand – it is political theatre,” said GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron. “The DA’s decision to abandon the National Dialogue, while clinging to GNU positions, exposes the contradiction in its stance.”
The party reaffirmed its support for the National Dialogue as a “platform for real engagement on South Africa’s most pressing challenges”, further reads the statement. “It was always intended to give voice to all sectors of society, not just political parties with media budgets and marketing machines,” further reads the statement.
DA’s next steps: Budgets and pressure
With the National Dialogue off the table, the DA says it will now focus its firepower on blocking budget votes for departments led by what it calls “compromised and corrupt ANC ministers.” The party also intends to name and shame these ministers in Parliament in coming weeks.
“We won’t be used to prop up the ANC,” said DA Federal Chair Helen Zille in an interview with Newzroom Afrika. “There must be mutual respect. This is not a DA inside an ANC-led government — this is a partnership.”
