Steenhuisen: DA will support Appropriation Bill
The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader said his party would vote in favour of all budget votes, including that of Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane, whom the party also wants to see axed.
Agriculture Minister and DA leader John Steenhuisen addressing the firing of Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister during debate on the Division of Revenue Bill in Parliament on 26 June 2025. Picture: Parliament
CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader and agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, said that his party would support the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday as the National Assembly looks to finally put the national budget to bed.
This follows the firing of African National Congress (ANC) MP, Nobuhle Nkabane, as higher education minister on Monday night.
The party had previously said it would reject the budget votes of departments presided over by compromised ministers after President Cyril Ramaphosa axed MP, Andrew Whitfield, for travelling to the United States without his permission.
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Meanwhile, ANC chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said the timing of Nkabane’s firing had nothing to do with appeasing the DA.
After five months of unprecedented budget wrangling, the Government of National Unity (GNU) is expected to rally together on Wednesday to get the last piece of budget legislation over the line.
Steenhuisen told EWN that it’s enough for his party that Nkabane was removed from her job over corruption allegations related to the appointment of boards for the Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) for the budget to get his party’s backing.
He said his party would vote in favour of all budget votes, including that of Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane, whom the party also wants to see axed.
On Sunday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the party was still engaged in crunch talks for the necessary support to approve the national budget.
Meanwhile, Ntuli said that the firing of Nkabane is unrelated to the budget impasse with the DA.
"It has much to do with whether the president has come to the conclusion whether this minister would be suitable to remain in that responsibility in the interest of that sector, of course the overall interest of the people of South Africa."
The GNU is still expected to face opposition to passing the budget from the MK and EFF, both of whom have indicated they will reject it.