DA pulls out of Government of National Unity's gesprekke

DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has announced his party's immediate withdrawal from the Government of National Unity's (GNU) National Dialogue, after accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of shielding corruption-accused African National Congress (ANC) Ministers.

- BY OLUTHANDO KETEYI

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday afternoon, Steenhuisen criticised the president for allegedly breaching the GNU's founding Statement of Intent and for what he called a pattern of “arrogance, disrespect and double standards” by the African National Congress (ANC) in its handling of coalition politics.

Steenhuisen said: “Until [President 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.

“Effective immediately, the DA will have no further part in this process.”

The DA joined the GNU following the 2024 general elections, in which the ANC lost its outright majority for the first time since 1994.

The coalition, seen by many as a historic opportunity to usher in a new era of multiparty governance, has since shown signs of strain.