ANC Youth League President Calls for DA Ministers Out
What Sparked the Call?
During a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to drop all Democratic Alliance (DA) ministers from the Government of National Unity (GNU). His remarks came after the Constitutional Court ordered the Electoral Commission of South Africa to reinstate 181 ANC candidates who had been left off the ballot for the November 4 local‑government elections.
Why the ANCYL Feels Let Down
Malatji said the ANCYL originally believed that partnering with South Africa’s second‑largest party would bring stability to the GNU.
“We thought in the beginning of the Youth League that working with the second‑biggest political party in South Africa would create a bit of stability in the government of national unity,” he said.
He added that when expectations are not met, it’s important to admit the mistake.
Accusations Against the DA
Malatji accused the DA of:
- Creating instability within the GNU.
- Pursuing a racist agenda that is financially backed.
- Undermining black leadership in the country.
He also renewed his criticism of Capitec Bank, claiming the bank funds the DA through companies linked to its founder, Michiel Le Roux. Malatji has previously called for a boycott of Capitec, alleging it opposes broad‑based black economic empowerment (B‑BEE). Le Roux denies that the bank itself finances the DA, saying donations came from his other firms, Fynbos Ekwiteit and Fynbos Kapital.
Capitec Donations – The Numbers
In 2022, Fynbos Ekwiteit and Fynbos Kapital donated R15 million to the DA. The party’s August 2023 disclosure showed an additional contribution from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, a German organisation.
Opening the Door for the EFF
While calling for the DA’s removal, Malatji suggested the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) could join the GNU if its leaders showed more maturity.
“If they can warm up and behave, they can come and join the government of national unity,” he said, describing the EFF as “mainly led by childish people.”
He urged President Ramaphosa to restart talks with other parties about the GNU’s composition.
Tensions Over Candidate Nominations
The dispute over the excluded local‑government candidates has heightened ANC‑DA friction. DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau criticised ANC secretary‑general Fikile Mbalula’s push to review the DA’s role in the GNU, saying:
“What Mbalula is saying sounds like a bitter husband who refuses to be held accountable and the minute you as a wife hold him accountable, he threatens divorce.”
Khakhau argued the ANC should own its nomination deadline miss and improve internal processes rather than threatening to reconsider the DA’s participation.
Conclusion
Collen Malatji’s latest remarks highlight growing unease within the ANCYL about the DA’s place in the GNU. He calls for the removal of DA ministers, a reassessment of the GNU’s makeup, and a possible invitation for the EFF—provided its leadership behaves more responsibly. As the ANC and DA continue to clash over candidate nominations, the future of South Africa’s coalition government remains uncertain, with youth leaders pushing for a clearer, more accountable path forward.
