Good Party slams DA no confidence plan, Action SA stays out

The Good party says the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s threat to bring a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa is reckless and is inconsistent with their position as a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The DA, on Saturday, also announced that they would not be taking part in the August National Dialogue that was announced recently by President Cyril Ramaphosa because of the treatment it is receiving from Ramaphosa.

The DA says Ramaphosa is protecting corrupt African National Congress (ANC) cabinet ministers, but was quick to fire DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield for taking an unauthorised trip to the United States (US).

The Good Party’s Brett Herron says, “The latest threat must be seen in a context of a party that is unable or unwilling, or so divided, that they cannot carry through the ultimatums or the threats that they make in the public space. Of course, if they voted to remove President Ramaphosa, and they were successful in gaining a majority of the members of the national assembly, that would be the end of the GNU.”

Herron says the DA would lose their seats in the executive. A new President would have to be elected by the National Assembly and a new executive would be appointed.

“In that context, we must raise the question as to who would be willing to work with such an unreliable, reckless partner like the DA,” adds Herron.

Meanwhile, Action SA’s Athol Trollip says the party has long held reservations about the presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa and the way he runs his executive.

Trollip says Ramaphosa never holds any ANC cabinet ministers to account. Despite this, Trollip says the party will not be led to a vote of no confidence by the DA.

“The DA made a decision to go into the GNU, that’s a decision that they must live with. They mustn’t think that they’re going to coral the rest of the political parties in parliament into going along to get their own objective served through a motion of no confidence,” says Trollip.