Da May Not Vote For Budget If Gnu Reset Bid Fails: John Steenhuisen

The Democratic Alliance DA may consider withholding its votes in Parliament, such as for the national budget, if its bid for a reset of relations within the government of national unity GNU fails.

DA leader John Steenhuisen made the threat during a media briefing on Saturday 25 January in response to President Cyril Ramaphosas signing of the Expropriation Bill into law earlier this week.

Citing the Expropriation Bills signing and the governments push to implement the National Health Insurance NHI despite DAs objections, Steenhuisen accused Ramaphosa and the African National Congress ANC of disrespecting its GNU partners.

"In recent days, the President not only disregarded the serious constitutional objections raised by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean MacPherson over the Expropriation Bill, but he failed to even inform the Minister about when he intended to sign the bill into force, he said.

"Whether the ANC likes it or not, the stability of this government as well as the security of the President's own position depends entirely on the relationship between the two biggest partners inside the GNU."

Steenhuisen announced that he had written to Ramaphosa to inform him that the DA is now seeking an urgent reset of relations within the GNU. It is also declaring a dispute in terms of Section 19 of the GNUs Statement of Intent.

Clause 19.3 states that, Sufficient consensus exists when parties to the GNU representing 60 of seats in the National Assembly agree The only parties in the GNU that together represent 60 of seats in the GNU, are the ANC and the DA, he explained.

According to the Statement of Intent, if sufficient consensus is not achieved, GNU parties must establish dispute resolution mechanisms.

Asked what the DA would do if its demands were not met, Steenhuisen said while the DA is not issuing an ultimatum, it may use its votes in Parliament to up the ante.

This is a mature call, as a partner in the GNU, for a reset in the relations, where we are respected and treated as partners and not as spectators. This administration is not a continuation of the sixth administration, he said.