Cape Town – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has challenged the DA to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU) if it’s unhappy, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s refusal to reverse the dismissal of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, who was fired for making an unauthorised trip to the US.
Speaking during a media briefing over the weekend, DA leader John Steenhuisen expressed growing dissatisfaction with Ramaphosa, saying his party was losing confidence in his leadership.
He argued Whitfield’s trip was in his party capacity, not as a government official.
He said that the DA could also be considering a no-confidence motion in Ramaphosa.
But speaking at an ANC regional conference on Sunday, Mbalula criticised the DA’s ultimatums and threats to oppose budget votes and exit the National Dialogue, saying government can’t be run on blackmail or threats.
Mbalula insisted that the GNU would survive without the DA, as other parties were ready to join.
He defended Ramaphosa’s decision and warned that any motion of no confidence would effectively signal the DA’s exit from the GNU.
“If they propose a motion of no confidence, it means they then are out of the GNU. We will wait for when they want to do that and then if they do that, they are out of the GNU and the ANC will deal with those matters tomorrow. We will reflect on these developments as the national working committee and decide what needs to be done.
“But it’s vividly clear that we are behind the president and at the same time, we are not moved by any threat, including ultimatums. Government is not run by ultimatums, if you respect each other. They must learn to speak properly through us not through ultimutums . You can’t give an ultimatum to a person whom you serve in his executive,” Mbalula said.
[WATCH] If they propose a motion of no confidence on the President then it will mean they are out of the GNU. #ANC7thRegionalConference#ANCRenewal#ThePeoplesMovement pic.twitter.com/F0rpNE7X6k
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 29, 2025
He added: “They have a choice. If they think that this government of national unity doesn’t serve them well, they have a choice to leave. So, they have a choice to stay and we also have a choice to work with everyone for the interest of the people of South Africa. It is not good for the economy that the DA wants to hold government at ransom.
“At times, when there is a difference, they threaten to walk away; it’s blackmail. You can’t run a relationship on the basis of blackmail, and you need to respect your partner.”
Mbalula emphasised that disagreements within the GNU are expected, given the differing ideologies, but called on all members to work together in the national interest.
“Here we are not being respected. Every time there is a point of difference, they threaten to go. There will be differences in this government of national unity, because we did not come here as like-minded political parties. Those things that unite us outweigh those that divide us.
“So it cannot be that once we differ on a single issue, including the removal of a deputy minister of an opposition in the GNU, then that party threatens to walk away and threatens with a motion of no confidence. Government is not run in that way.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
