DA slams attempts to boot Gwarube out of office

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it rejects any attempt in what it has termed as a “faction of the ANC” which is allegedly encouraging President Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss its member and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube as well as other DA-affiliated Ministers “for conducting their jobs.

“Doing so would signal an end to the Government of National Unity (GNU),” party leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement released on Sunday.

Steenhuisen’s comments come amid vast criticism levelled against the DA on its position regarding the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, including Gwarube’s absence when Ramaphosa officially signed the Act into law back in September.

Last month, the DA said Clause 4 and 5 of the Act “gives too much authority to provincial governments and takes away too much of our democratic rights as parents.”

Steenhuisen further addressed the “misinformation” around the consultation process since the law was enacted.

“During this time, the minister has met with members from Solidarity, and the Presidency, at NEDLAC after a dispute was lodged by the Union. This process is entirely separate from the consultation process, and conflating the two is misleading, and factually incorrect. This was a mandatory process, in terms of the law, to prevent strike action arising out of the dispute. The outcome of this engagement was a settlement, signed by the Minister of Basic Education, the Presidency, and the Union,” he says.

He adds: “The fact that the Presidency has now distanced itself from this legislated process, which they were party to, is as disgraceful, as it is confusing.”

He says the party supports the process followed by Gwarube “as she was fulfilling her responsibilities.”