DA pulls out of National Dialogue
Tensions within the Government of NationalUnity could escalate further after the Democratic Alliance pulled out of the
National Dialogue.
Leader John Steenhuisen says they also would not support any budget votes for departments run by executives implicated in corruption.
It comes days after the DA's Andrew Whitfield was fired from cabinet for taking an unauthorised trip to the United States.
Steenhuisen accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of having double standards and wants him to axe ANC ministers he says are compromised.
They include Higher Education Minister NobuhleNkabane over her controversial advisory panel used to appoint board chairs at the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) and Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane for her alleged role in VBS looting.
READ: DA reviews options after Whitfield axing
Steenhuisen addressed the media on Saturday, after the lapsing of a 48-hour deadline he had given Ramaphosa.
"At every instance where President Ramaphosa has chosen to protect corruption-accused within his own ranks while treating his coalition partners with contempt, he has sought to justify his actions by hiding behind something called ‘presidential prerogative.’
“He uses the fact that the Constitution gives the President certain powers as a blanket excuse to take action against honest and hard-working Members of the Executive, while shielding those implicated in corruption and mismanagement.
“But it seems the ANC has never asked where this prerogative comes from in the first place.
ALSO READ: Analyst: SA economy could pay the price for Whitfield axing
“The President only has this prerogative because of his partners in the GNU, without whose votes in Parliament he would have been a one-term President," said Steenhuisen.
Despite the tensions, Steenhuisen says the DA will remain in the GNU.
"We are going to fight to ensure that the change happens and that starts by putting pressure on the ANC and President Ramaphosa to clean up.
"It's no use sweeping outside the DA's doorstep if you're not prepared to sweep outside your own doorstep."
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