Cyril dares DA to boycott national dialogue

DA MINISTERS intending to boycott the National Dialogue will have to provide President Cyril Ramaphosa with valid reasons for their non-attendance or their absence will be regarded as insubordination, says the Presidency. 

The Inter-Ministerial Committee(IMC) on the National Dialogue appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa includes DA leader John Steenhuisen as Agriculture Minister. 

Other members of the 12-member committee are its chair, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa (IFP), Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie (Patriotic Alliance) and Land Reform Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso (PAC).  

“Any member of Cabinet who wishes to no longer participate in the IMC will have to provide reasons to the President. Hopefully, they'll also think about the consequences of such insubordination. Because that's how the President will regard any non-participation as insubordination," said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

The National Dialogue aims to address South Africa's ongoing challenges, such as poverty, crime, inequality and unemployment, which continue despite 30 years of democracy. 

The DA announced its withdrawal after Ramaphosa refused to reverse his decision to fire its member Andrew Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition for traveling  abroad without permission. 

On Saturday, Steenhuisen described the National Dialogue as  an electioneering ploy, at taxpayer expense, to gloss over the serious crises that the ANC has plunged South Africa into. 

“The Dialogue also has no constitutional standing whatsoever to take or impose decisions. Frankly, the President cannot even dialogue meaningfully with his own coalition partners, so there is little point in pretending there is any substance to an ANC-run National Dialogue.”

Magwenya said the DA's boycott of the National Dialogue was immaterial because the initiative was not a party political exercise.

“It's an initiative for all South Africans and the DA is not all South Africans. Ministers who have been appointed to the National Dialogue IMC are expected to participate fully in the IMC, anything to the contrary will have to be explained to the President and non participation in the IMC as the President has directed will certainly constitute insubordination,” Magwenya added.

The ANC has weighed in on the DA’s latest move, saying: "This response speaks volumes about the DA’s character, they are willing to undermine national interests in pursuit of their narrow partisan agenda. The ANC firmly believes that this dialogue is not merely an event, it is a critical process in pursuit of social compacting, unity, and national renewal. At this juncture, it is imperative for the DA to clarify its stance: is it a genuine and principled partner in the GNU, or is it positioning itself as a quasi-opposition within the executive.” 

The GOOD Party, a member of the GNU, said the DA’s decision to withdraw from the National Dialogue “reflects a deep unwillingness to prioritise South Africa’s collective future over party posturing”. 

“This latest tantrum, triggered by the President's refusal to yield to an artificial 48-hour ultimatum, is not a principled stand - it is political theatre. The DA’s ultimatum was exposed as inconsequential and their frequent tantrums are quite frankly embarrassing. South Africa does not need parties walking away from dialogue. It needs leadership that can engage with complexity, manage disagreement maturely, and stay the course. The DA’s decision to abandon the National Dialogue, while clinging to its GNU positions, exposes the contradiction in its stance,” said GOOD secretary-general, Brett Herron. 

AL JAMA-AH, another member of the coalition government, said:  “The GNU has a clearing house to deal with disputes and infringes of the "statement of intent”. The GNU also has a Leaders Forum which AL JAMA-AH President Honourable Ganief Hendricks serves on. The Leader's Forum agreed to have a breakaway. It is within this structure, whereby the responsibility to resolve the DA's disputes has to be addressed. This includes whether or not by withdrawing from the National Dialogue the DA, is declaring itself outside of government or not. Nevertheless the DA has insulted the integrity of the most respected thought leaders in the country, clearly stating that their counsel is not welcome.” 

University of the Free Political Studies and Governance lecturer Sanet Solomon said the DA’s moves in the GNU could damage its supporter base.  

"The DAs decision to withdraw itself from the National Dialogue sends a message to its supporters that it is 'actively standing up' against the ANC and that it is not passively going along with all its decisions. This display of ' showmanship' is just a facade as the party cannot leave the GNU without damaging its support base. 

“Post May-2024 it (the DA) tried convincing voters that allying with the GNU would result in better governance and a reduction in corruption. Should it leave the GNU now, its voting base might revert to the FF+, the Good Party, the Patriotic Alliance and others as they may believe that the DA cannot co-govern with others. Should the DA stay, it would be stuck trying to convince its supporters that it has influence in the GNU’s decision-making. Either way, they are stuck in a catch-22," said Solomon.

Cape Times