By Johnathan Paoli
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has withdrawn from the National Dialogue process following party leader John Steenhuisen accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of continuously protecting “corrupt” ANC Cabinet ministers.
It has also vowed to vote against departmental budgets headed by these ministers.
Steenhuisen said that his party would no longer legitimise what he called the African National Congress’ (ANC) “pattern of disrespect, arrogance and double standards” within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“Instead of substantive cooperation, the ANC has chosen to protect looters, undermine the GNU agreement and treat its partners with contempt. Ramaphosa has become indistinguishable from the RET (Radical Economic Transformation) faction he once vowed to oppose,” Steenhuisen said.
He told reporters that the DA had entered the GNU in good faith following the 2024 elections, which saw the ANC lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.
The DA joined the coalition on the basis of a signed Statement of Intent that promised collaborative governance and a commitment to fighting corruption.
However, he accused Ramaphosa of repeatedly violating these principles and enabling corruption in his ranks.
The tipping point for the DA was the recent dismissal of deputy trade and industry minister Andrew Whitfield, who is the party’s Eastern Cape leader.
Whitfield had requested travel permission from the president for a party-funded trip to the United States, which was neither approved nor denied.
Steenhuisen said his removal was “hypocritical and politically motivated.”
“This is a government where ANC ministers who loot and lie are protected, but DA ministers who work hard are fired,” Steenhuisen said.
He contrasted Whitfield’s treatment with the light sanction against former minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula for using an air force jet to fly an ANC delegation to Zimbabwe in 2020.
The DA’s Federal Executive has now resolved to take three concrete steps.
In terms of withdrawing from the National Dialogue; Steenhuisen dismissed the dialogue as a “talk shop” with no constitutional authority, designed to whitewash the ANC’s image ahead of the 2026 elections.
“It’s an electioneering ploy at taxpayer expense. We will have no part in it,” he said.
While it is estimated that the dialogue will cost R740 million, the government has said that this figure has not been approved.
Secondly, the DA will oppose budget votes in Parliament for departments headed by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane.
“This is about targeting corruption without destabilising the government. We will support the overall budget for the sake of the country, but not the looters’ budgets,” Steenhuisen clarified.
Thirdly, while not yet tabled, Steenhuisen warned that the DA is seriously considering a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa if he continued shielding ministers and misleading Parliament.
“The president’s so-called ‘prerogative’ only exists because GNU partners allowed it. What was given in good faith can be taken back due to bad faith,” he warned.
DA Federal Chair Ivan Meyer reinforced the party’s position, rejecting speculation that the DA was planning to exit the GNU.
“We are not putting our party first. We are putting South Africa first. If we leave, we risk handing over power to a chaotic alliance of radicals,” Meyer said.
He also slammed the ANC’s misuse of state resources, accusing it of turning the National Dialogue into a “R740 million propaganda campaign.”
“Corruption is the enemy of inclusive growth, poverty reduction and a capable state—three core pillars of the GNU. We cannot stand by while these pillars are being eroded,” Meyer added.
In a post-briefing Q&A session, Steenhuisen was pressed on whether remaining in the GNU while attacking it publicly undermined coalition unity.
Steenhuisen responded that the DA’s presence in the coalition was a “bulwark against looters and extremists”, and that leaving now would amount to abandoning the electorate.
The party called on civil society to mobilise against the National Dialogue, arguing that real reform could only begin once the president removed corruption-accused ministers from his Cabinet.
“If the ANC wants to kick us out for standing against corruption, so be it. But we will not stand by while the future of our country is sold out by thieves in suits,” Steenhuisen said.
Ramaphosa previously pledged to reduce the projected costs of the upcoming dialogue following widespread criticism.
He said the government would scale down expenditure while ensuring broad and meaningful public consultation, insisting the figure was merely an estimate and that spending would be minimised.
Ramaphosa emphasised that the dialogue would build a shared vision to guide reforms and foster confidence in the country’s economic future.
Ramaphosa warned the DA and Steenhuisen on Friday that he did not take kindly to threats after it issued him with a 48-hour ultimatum to fire the ANC ministers.
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