if coalition partners can dictate cabinet changes based on internal party dynamics, what remains of presidential authority or constitutional order?
Recent reshuffle demands by the Democratic Alliance (DA) within the Government of National Unity (GNU) have once again laid bare the fundamental flaws of this ill-conceived coalition.
As members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), we view these developments not as isolated incidents, but as symptomatic of a deeper crisis: the GNU’s role as a continuation of the African National Congress’s (ANC) historical failures, entrenched in elite compromises that betray the aspirations of the South African people.
On 17 June 2026, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis requested President Cyril Ramaphosa to demote John Steenhuisen from Minister of Agriculture to Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, proposing Willie Aucamp as his replacement. This follows Steenhuisen’s earlier stepping down as DA leader and highlights instability within the GNU.
It raises critical questions about governance: if coalition partners can dictate cabinet changes based on internal party dynamics, what remains of presidential authority or constitutional order? The EFF has long argued that the GNU surrenders executive power to factional interests, turning the Cabinet into a battleground for careerism rather than service delivery.
