South Africa’s DA party quits ‘national dialogue’ initiative | News

Party leader John Steenhuisen said the initiative was a “waste of time and money”.

The Party of the Democratic Alliance of South Africa (DA) withdrew from a “national dialogue” initiative after the party leader called him “loss of time and money”.

John Steenhuisen said on Saturday that corruption afflicted the government, that he blamed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, but stopped leaving the coalition.

“Nothing will change in South Africa for the best if we keep the same people around the cabinet table who got involved in corruption,” said Steenhuisen at a press conference.

After the general elections of last year, where the African National Congress of Ramaphosa lost its parliamentary majority for the first time Three decadesHe was forced to team up with the DA, the second largest party, to form a government called the government of national unity (GNU).

However, the two parts are ideologically different.

The DA is adapted to the market and on the right, while the ANC is a part of the center-left, letting the two parties compete several times on questions such as the laws on the budget and the empowerment of blacks.

Last month, Ramaphosa launched a process to unite the country, called “national dialogue”, to solve the most important problems affecting South Africa, including high unemployment and crime.

‘All bets are turned off’

Adding to tensions on Thursday, Ramaphosa dismissed the DA Vice Minister of the DA Andrew Whitfield of his post due to an unauthorized trip abroad in the United States.

Steenhuisen denounced this decision and said that Whitfield had sent written requests for the trip, which had been ignored by Ramaphosa.

In an ultimatum, Steenhuisen declared that the old must dismiss thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane and other members of the former who face allegations of corruption in 48 hours, otherwise “all bets are deactivated and the consequences will be to bear”.

On Friday, a press release from the presidency said that the decision to dismiss the minister was due to a “clear violation of established rules and practices” for ministers.

“That it is clear that the president does not give threats and ultimatums, in particular members of the executive that he has the prerogative of appointing in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” added the presidency.