Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance will support the 2024/25 Appropriation Bill following the President’s decision to dismiss Minister Nkabane after sustained DA pressure.
This decision is the crucial first step in holding compromised Ministers accountable.
While long overdue, the removal of Minister Nkabane confirms that pressure from the DA within the Government of National Unity is yielding results.
The DA acted in the national interest when we passed the Division of Revenue Bill to enable provinces and municipalities to continue to receive funding, and we will now pass the Appropriation Bill in the national interest following the President’s actions.
However, the DA will not allow compromised individuals in the Executive to paralyse government or harm the people of this country.
We had earlier announced our intention to withhold support for the budgets of Ministers implicated in wrongdoing unless dismissals occurred, and we also laid fraud charges against Minister Nkabane and submitted a complaint to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee. These were not symbolic actions, they were principled stands backed by real consequence, and we will see these actions through to its conclusion.
We now welcome the President’s decision to act against her. But this must be the beginning, not the end. There are still individuals in the Executive facing serious allegations. If the President is serious about restoring public trust, he must act decisively and consistently, not only when under pressure.
The ANC must also accept that it no longer governs alone. In a coalition, meaningful consultation with partners is not optional. It is essential to rebuild public confidence and ensure accountable governance. We will continue to engage the GNU parties in good faith to stop corruption and drive delivery in government.
The DA will continue to lead the fight against corruption from within the GNU.
We will use every tool at our disposal in Parliament and in government to protect public money, defend the Constitution, and ensure that ethical, accountable leadership becomes the norm, and that this dismissal is not the exception, so that public get what they voted for: reforms that deliver for our citizens, and clean, accountable government.
Regards
John Steenhuisen MP
Leader of the Democratic Alliance