Cyril Ramaphosa, president of the African National Congress, blasted Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen for his actions during the Government of National Unity negotiations and recent demands.
In a leaked letter tweeted by @samkelemaseko, Ramaphosa criticizes Steenhuisen for the Democratic Alliance’s requests from an earlier leaked letter. The DA requested to receive the Departments of Home Affairs, Basic Education, Trade, Industry, and Competition, among others.
The DA demanded deputy ministers for Finance, Energy and Electricity, Small Business Development, and an unidentified department to replace Trade, Industry, and Competition.
Ramaphosa was dissatisfied with Steenhuisen’s addition of two more ministries to the six the DA had requested. He also chastised Steenhuisen for failing to meet with him in person during discussions.
“I informed you that the habit of negotiating through correspondence, as adopted by the DA, can be problematic. It can for example make parties play to the gallery of public opinion through media leakages resulting in the loss of focus on the real substance of the negotiations. I also informed you that we found the letter from your Federal Chairperson offensive, condescending and inconsistent with the Constitution,” he said.
Read the full letter here:
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa penned this FINAL LETTER to DA Leader John Steenhuisen after he responded to their meeting and the proposals put on the table on the formation of the GNU Executive. The deal with the DA is on a knives edge over the Department of Trade and… pic.twitter.com/H6MxJzasCB
— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) June 27, 2024
