South Africa's Democratic Alliance exits national dialogue led by ANC

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), a member of the current unity government, said Saturday that it will resign from a “national dialogue” group aimed at addressing the country’s challenges.

The news came only days before the GNU’s first anniversary, and it dealt a further blow to the DA, the second-largest party.

President Cyril Ramaphosa of the African National Congress (ANC) began a “national dialogue” this month to address the country’s most pressing concerns, including high unemployment and violence.

The effort has been attacked by the DA and others, with DA leader John Steenhuisen calling it a “waste of time and money”.

His party, he told reporters, “has resolved to withdraw from the dialogue with immediate effect”.

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He also said corruption was plaguing the government and blamed Ramaphosa for failing to take action.

“Nothing will change in South Africa for the better if we keep the same people around the cabinet table which have involved themselves in corruption,” Steenhuisen said.

The GNU government was formed after the ANC failed to win an outright majority in the June 2024 elections for the first time ever.

The coalition has been strained by infighting over issues such as the national budget and black empowerment laws.

Adding to the tensions, a DA minister, Andrew Whitfield, was sacked this week because of an unauthorised overseas trip, according to the presidency.

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