Thabiso Goba5 July 2025 | 6:15

ANC, DA in war of words over blue party's move to boycott National Dialogue

On Friday, ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, labelled the DA as hypocrites, while DA Leader, John Steenhuisen, called the head of state’s comments 'intemperate'.

ANC, DA in war of words over blue party's move to boycott National Dialogue

FILE: The DA and ANC entered into an arrangement in the Government of National Unity. Picture: GCIS

CAPE TOWN - Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), are in a war of words following the blue party’s decision to boycott the upcoming National Dialogue.

On Friday, ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, labelled the DA as hypocrites, while DA Leader, John Steenhuisen, called the head of state’s comments "intemperate."

The DA recently announced that it would be pulling out of the dialogue in protest of Ramaphosa’s decision to fire the party’s Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister and for not taking action against ANC ministers embroiled in controversy.

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However, Ramaphosa said that they were conflating two issues that had nothing to do with each other and the dialogue would continue with or without them.  

"It will be looking at all aspects of South African life, including cultural issues, sport, science and I can name them all, so that I can whet their appetite so that their tongues hang out and see they are going to miss the biggest show in SA by defining themselves outside of the National Dialogue. What a pity, what a great pity."

Meanwhile, Steenhuisen said that the dialogue would not achieve anything if Cabinet was still filled with compromised ministers. 

"If those things are to be implemented by the very people who are involved in state capture, corruption, maladministration and have shown a middle finger to Parliament and the general public through a farcical process of appointments, well if you are going to be  relying on those people to be the one implementing your plans, then its going to end up like every other plan, issue and talk shop that has happened for the last 20 years."