DA says GNU partners have no right to meddle in who the party appoints in executive roles
The DA holds six ministerial and six deputy minister posts in the GNU.
DA Chief Whip George Michalakis. Picture: EWN/Lindsay Dentlinger
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in parliament says it doesn’t think its Government of National Unity (GNU) partners should dictate to the party who to appoint in executive roles.
This after reports that a faction of the African National Congress (ANC) is calling for the head of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube over her handling of consultations on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act.
The DA holds six ministerial and six deputy minister posts in the GNU.
The party on Monday has been taking stock of its performance in parliament, which includes amendments made to the BELA Act by the National Council of Provinces in the first half of the year.
READ: Gwarube: The president can hire and fire, that's his prerogative
DA Chief Whip George Michalakis said while parliament has no role to play in the impasse, it agrees with the positions held by party leader, John Steenhuisen and Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille on the matter.
"Obviously the DA holds that portfolio and it should be within our discretion who the minister is there. I will stand with the comments already given by the party. The BELA Act has already been dealt with by parliament so unless the president returns it, it will not be an issue that will be in parliament and it is an issue that is being dealt with at an executive level," Michalakis said.
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Asked whether the DA would back a call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to face parliamentary consequences on the Phala Phala matter should Gwarube's recommendations and concerns not be taken into account on the BELA Act, Michaelakis had this to say.
"If a report comes that implicates anyone whether it’s the president or any other member of the executive, we will fulfill our constitutional mandate of holding them to account. I don't want to pre-empt what the results of that would be, or the content of that, but we will absolutely fulfill our constitutional mandate in that regard," he said.