Zille stands firm: DA won’t be bullied out of government...

Helen Zille, Chair of the DA Federal Council, asserts the party won’t be forced out of the Government of National Unity. She warns of severe economic consequences if ousted and criticises the ANC’s breaches of their agreement. Zille confirms the DA is ready to escalate matters, including a no-confidence motion..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter .Helen Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA), has made it clear that her party will not be forced out of the Government of National Unity (GNU) by the African National Congress (ANC) without a fight. In a wide-ranging and candid interview with Bronwyn Nielsen for BizNews, Zille addressed recent political tensions, the dismissal of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, and the ANC’s alleged violations of the GNU’s founding agreement.Zille acknowledged the reality that President Cyril Ramaphosa has the authority to dismiss DA ministers from the GNU, and there are factions within the ANC eager to see that happen. However, she warned of dire consequences should the DA be ousted, including a potential economic crisis, further investor flight, and increased unemployment - particularly in agriculture. “We’d be lucky if the rand stayed at 25 to the dollar,” she said, describing such a move as a "massive jolt of history" that could push South Africa into deeper economic turmoil.According to Zille, the ANC is pursuing a strategy of "constructive dismissal", attempting to provoke the DA into walking away so it can deflect blame for the consequences. But the DA, she insisted, is “not going to make it easy”. The party will not tolerate being treated like a “doormat” but is equally unwilling to leave without exposing the cost to South Africa. As an intermediate measure, the DA is considering a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa. Zille revealed the party has crunched the numbers and believes it may be able to rally enough parliamentary support to unseat the president, or at least force the ANC to consider recalling him internally.On the issue of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield’s dismissal, Zille accused the president of manufacturing a reason to fire him. Whitfield had travelled to Washington with a DA delegation to reassure US officials about South Africa’s commitment to AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act). According to Zille, Whitfield did not require formal approval for the trip, as it was not official government business. Despite repeated requests for a response from the presidency, no answer was given, and Whitfield ultimately boarded the flight. “If it had been about the trip, why wait until the end of June to fire him?” she asked, suggesting ulterior motives, possibly tied to corruption in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.Zille also defended the DA’s stance on key legislation, including its opposition to the National Health Insurance (NHI) and the Expropriation Act. “The NHI has got nothing to do with redress. It’s about bankrupting this country and creating a massive looting pot for the ANC,” she stated. On land expropriation, she argued that the ANC is misusing legal frameworks intended for infrastructure development to perpetuate land grabs under the guise of transformation.The GNU, she said, is being undermined by the ANC’s failure to honour the founding Statement of Intent, especially the clauses on proportional cabinet representation and consensus decision-making. The DA, which was entitled to nine ministries, settled for six to maintain stability - only to see the cabinet expand beyond the agreed size. Zille accused the ANC of unilaterally inflating its power and bypassing consensus mechanisms, describing attempts to circumvent agreement as “cynical and dishonest”.Despite the turbulence, Zille insisted the DA is acting rationally and strategically, mapping out scenarios and escalating its response step by step. “Doing nothing is not an option,” she said, suggesting that while a no-confidence vote remains on the table, it would only be deployed as a last resort.In a final aside, Zille confirmed she has applied to be the mayor of Johannesburg, should the opportunity arise, though she stressed the process is competitive and she is preparing thoroughly.Helen Zille’s message was unequivocal: the DA will not be bullied, and it will use every available tool to defend its position, the rule of law, and the South African public interest.

Zille stands firm: DA won’t be bullied out of government...

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