Cosatu urges Ramaphosa to dismiss ministers opposing govt laws

Dean Macpherson

Cape Town – The Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss cabinet ministers who fail to implement government laws, warning that non-compliance could harm the ANC’s performance in the 2026 local elections.

This comes after DA Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson opposed implementing the newly signed Expropriation Bill, which allows land expropriation in the public interest without compensation.

The Bill has sparked criticism from opposition parties, including the DA and IFP, who argue it is unconstitutional. 

Macpherson firmly stated his opposition to the Expropriation Bill, vowing to safeguard property rights and ensuring that private property would not be expropriated under his leadership.

“As the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, there will be NO expropriation of private property without compensation on my watch. The guarantee of property rights under Section 25 of the Constitution is not up for debate and is non-negotiable,” he said in an X post.

“In terms of the law, only Ministers implement Acts and regulations. Anyone who claims to speak for the department is just giving an opinion,” he wrote in a follow-up post.

But speaking at the ANC Lekgotla, Cosatu Deputy General-Secretary, Gerald Twala, praised Ramaphosa for signing the Bela Act and Expropriation Bill into law while standing firm on labour rights.

Twala also called on the president to take decisive action against DA ministers opposing the new legislation, suggesting that competent deputy ministers are prepared to take over.

“We expect all ministers, without exception, to implement legislations of the country. Those from the DA who refuse to implement laws of the country, comrade president, don’t hesitate to act. We have capable deputy ministers in those portfolios. 

“Now we must accelerate transformation and deliver on our promises, as the 2026 elections will be won or lost based on our ability to deliver services, grow the economy, create jobs, and tackle crime and inequality,” Twala said.

ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile also weighed in on the matter and called on  Macpherson to either comply with government policies or step down from his position.

“If minister Macpherson doesn’t want to implement the law, he must resign, because it means he doesn’t belong there. We’re not going to allow any minister in government to do as they like. We are appointed by the president, we are accountable to the president, we implement the laws of the land. That’s it. There is no two ways about it.


“If he wants to raise his concerns, he must raise them with the president but no one should go out in public and and say ‘I’ll never implement the law. That we not going to allow,” Mashatile said.

He added: “The GNU is fine. It’s just trouble by some silly people. The GNU is fine. We are working very well. But from time to time, there are people who want to mess up and the president must deal with them decisively. We can’t allow this. It’s important that we focus on the programme we have agreed on as a governement of national unity and serve our people.”

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