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South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), a key member of the nation’s ruling unity government, announced on Saturday its withdrawal from a “national dialogue” initiative aimed at addressing the country’s pressing issues.
This decision delivers a fresh blow to the Government of National Unity (GNU) just days before its first anniversary, with the DA being the second-largest party in the coalition.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), launched the “national dialogue” this month to tackle critical challenges facing South Africa, including high unemployment and rampant crime.
However, the initiative has drawn criticism from the DA and others.
DA leader John Steenhuisen dismissed it as merely a “waste of time and money,” informing reporters that his party “has resolved to withdraw from the dialogue with immediate effect.”
Steenhuisen also accused the government of being plagued by corruption and blamed President Ramaphosa for failing to take decisive action.
“Nothing will change in South Africa for the better if we keep the same people around the cabinet table who have involved themselves in corruption,” he asserted.
The GNU government was formed after the ANC, for the first time in its history, failed to secure an outright majority in the June 2024 elections.
The coalition has since been marked by internal disputes over various issues, including the national budget and Black empowerment laws.
Adding to the recent tensions, a DA minister, Andrew Whitfield, was reportedly sacked this week due to an unauthorised overseas trip, according to the presidency.
