Cape Town – The DA has formally declared a dispute with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government over the Expropriation Bill, which they argue is unconstitutional.
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially signed the bill into law on Thursday.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said that his party felt disrespected by the ANC and plans to invoke clauses in the GNU statement of intent to reset relations among the participating parties.
“Whether the ANC likes it or not, the stability of this government as well as the security of the president’s own position depends entirely on a relationship between the two largest parties to the Government of National Unity.
“In keeping with our mature approach to coalition government, the Democratic Alliance is, therefore, urgently seeking to pursue a reset in this relationship…,” Steenhuisen said during a media briefing on Saturday.
He said that he has written to the president, raising his concerns and invoking Sections 19 and 20 of the GNU’s founding statement of intent.
The cited sections provide for the creation of a dispute resolution mechanism among GNU participants.
“The President needs to accept, along with his party, that the ANC does not have the majority in South Africa. They are now, just another minority party and the DA are partners in the GNU,” said Steenhuisen.