The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected calls to leave South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), despite tensions with the ANC over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s firing of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield, according to a report in the Sunday Times.
At a heated two-hour federal executive meeting, some senior DA members pushed for the party to exit the GNU but were overruled by leader John Steenhuisen and his allies, including cabinet ministers. The party instead resolved to vote against the budgets of two ANC ministers implicated in corruption.
The crisis escalated after Ramaphosa dismissed Whitfield for “insubordination” when he traveled to the U.S. without permission amid diplomatic tensions. DA federal council chair Helen Zille confirmed discussions about a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa but said the party would first use its parliamentary influence to target corrupt ministers.
“We all know that [a motion of no confidence] is the nuclear option,” Zille said. “We decided to vote against their budget votes instead. We’re not afraid to take further action.”
Steenhuisen warned that leaving the GNU would harm governance and the economy. The DA also plans to boycott Ramaphosa’s R700 million national dialogue, calling it an ANC-backed “talk shop.”
Meanwhile, ANC ministers defended Whitfield’s firing, stating he defied a cabinet travel ban. “It’s not that he went without permission, directly defied the president’s order,” a cabinet insider said.
Ramaphosa retains the DA’s deputy minister post per GNU agreements but faces pressure to fire higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane (accused of lying to Parliament) and human settlements minister Thembi Simelane (linked to VBS corruption).
Zille hinted that a no-confidence motion remains possible: “He must fire us from the GNU. We won’t make it easy for him.”
The standoff highlights deepening GNU fractures as the DA balances governance and anti-corruption demands.
