Cape Town – EFF leader Julius Malema has criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA) for issuing an ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa over the dismissal of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield.
Malema said the DA must respect the president and government protocols.
He argued that the DA willingly entered a partnership with the ANC, knowing its corruption issues, and must now face the consequences.
“They’ve no reason to complain. They went into a marriage and knowing very well that they are going with the ANC-corrupt government into a marriage. These are unnecessary threats. If the DA was anti-corruption, the DA was pro-poor, the DA was to ensure that they will restore the dignity of our people, they should have allowed the ANC to govern as a minority party.
“There was nothing forcing them to go into government. They should have stood outside and allow the ANC to constitute its own government and continue to oppose the ANC if they want to do so. You cannot oppose the government you are part of,” said Malema.
[WATCH] EFF leader Julius Malema says the Democratic Alliance must respect the president and government protocol. Malema was responding to the DA’s recent ultimatum to President Ramaphosa after he fired Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister of trade and industry. pic.twitter.com/lAmu2ZmiZP
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 28, 2025
“They are in government. Whatever decision Ramaphosa takes, they are part of that decision because they decided to be part of this mess. So if they don’t want the mess, they must stay outside and then allow the ANC to do a minority government. The ANC has got a minority government in Gauteng, they refused to work with the DA. So DA can freely express itself without any hesitation because they are not part of government.
“How do you become part of government and travel overseas without the permission of the president? That is anarchy. And when you are being punished in line with what the president is responsible for, you complain. They just want to run like they are government on their own, there is no president.
“There is a president here whether you like him or not. They voted for him, and they have to respect him and respect the government protocol. They don’t want that, they must step out and let the ANC do its own mess and then we all oppose it collectively.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
