The African National Congress (ANC) has vowed to defend President Cyril Ramaphosa against any possible motion of no confidence brought by the Democratic Alliance (DA).

This follows the DA’s announcement that it is withdrawing from the National Dialogue, scheduled for August. The party cited Ramaphosa’s failure to meet a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the dismissal of ANC ministers and deputy ministers accused of corruption. The ultimatum came shortly after Ramaphosa removed DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield from his post, reportedly over an unauthorised visit to the United States.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the party believes the National Dialogue will proceed successfully despite the DA’s withdrawal. She added that any motion of no confidence brought by the DA would amount to the party’s formal withdrawal from the GNU.

“I can say with certainty that the motion will not pass in the House. If the DA decides to pursue it, they are essentially walking away from the GNU,” Bhengu-Motsiri stated.

She also accused a faction within the DA of plotting to undermine the unity government.

[WATCH] If they propose a motion of no confidence on the President then it will mean they are out of the GNU. #ANC7thRegionalConference#ANCRenewal#ThePeoplesMovement pic.twitter.com/F0rpNE7X6k

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 29, 2025

The DA, the second-largest party in the GNU, has also said it will abstain from voting on the budgets of ANC ministers it deems corrupt. DA leader John Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa should fire DA ministers if he is dissatisfied with the party’s anti-corruption stance.

The DA argues there is a double standard in Ramaphosa’s handling of ministers, pointing to his inaction on ANC figures such as Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.

READ MORE: [FULL SPEECH] DA withdraws from National Dialogue