Johnathan Paoli
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, has said his party is the only thing standing between a prosperous South Africa and chaos created by parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK).
Steenhuisen delivered an address on Wednesday in Cape Town, ahead of the Opening of Parliament and said the DA would rescue the country from radical and anti-constitutional forces, while charting a new path.
“Our inclusion in the Government of National Unity (GNU) has extended the DA’s executive might, and strengthened our legislative capability where we can govern better and scrutinise the executive more effectively for the benefit of all South Africans,” he said.
The Minister praised his party’s position within the GNU as the second-largest party, and said it would allow the DA to introduce sound policy, clean accountable governance, and a people-focused governance agenda.
He outlined the party’s positions within the executive, which include: six ministers, six deputy ministers, five parliamentary portfolio chairpersons and three committee chairpersons.
Steenhuisen said he wanted to reassure South African voters that the DA remains steadfast in its commitment to its founding values and principles, and to the constitution which remains the existential bedrock of society.
“In these new roles, we will demonstrate to South Africans what the DA can do at a national level when given an opportunity to govern, and in parliament we will show how the legislatures can and should work as effective oversight bodies that keep the executive in check,” he said.
Steenhuisen fingered the EFF and MK as threats to the constitutional dispensation of the country, by seeking to implement destructive policies and ideals such as the abolition of the constitution and parliamentary sovereignty.
“The forces now seated across the aisle of the GNU in parliament are led by the likes of impeached high court judge, John Hlophe, and VBS theft-accused, Julius Malema, whose parties are the very antithesis to what we as South Africa hope to achieve,” he said.
He confirmed that his party, albeit from within the GNU, would continue to fight against “problematic national policies and legislation” such as the National Health Insurance (NHI) act and the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) bill.
Steenhuisen said he remained optimistic over the future of the country, and the role the DA would play.
“As challenging as this new beginning for South Africa may be, I look forward to the real change that the DA can bring to these new positions, and the progress it will make for people across the length and breadth of South Africa,” the minister said.
He said the DA expected the OPA address on Thursday by President Cyril Ramaphosa to outline the country’s reform agenda which is aligned with DA policy, especially concerning unlocking investment, economic growth and building state capacity.
“I am glad to see that the DA’s presence in the GNU is strong and visible, and I trust that the President’s address will reflect the plurality of voices now in national government, and that he will commit himself wholeheartedly to this necessary policy shift,” Steenhuisen said.
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