ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has urged political parties to rise above differences and focus on building a sustainable, inclusive nation. This follows the DA’s decision to pull out of the National Dialogue initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which is set to take place in August.

The DA’s withdrawal comes after the removal of its member, Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, from government. Whitfield was axed after embarking on what was described as an unauthorised visit to the United States. The party says it is aggrieved by the President’s decision, claiming Ramaphosa has turned a blind eye to what it calls “corrupt” Ministers within the ANC, while unfairly targeting Whitfield.

In response, Mbalula said the national dialogue is a countrywide initiative intended to strengthen SA’s democracy, not a political manoeuvre. He also criticised the DA’s threats to table a motion of no confidence against the president.

“There will be differences in this GNU because we did not come here as like-minded political parties,” Mbalula told journalists at the ANC’s O.R. Tambo Regional Conference in Mthatha, Eastern Cape province. “But those things that unite us outweigh those that divide us. It cannot be that once we differ on a single issue, including the removal of a Meputy minister, that a party threatens to walk away or propose a vote of no confidence. That is not how government works.”

Mbalula stressed that disagreements within a coalition government are natural but should not derail efforts to serve the people of SA.

--ChannelAfrica--