Kenny Kunene Rallies Behind Ramaphosa as GNU Faces Its First Real Test

DA throws down the gauntlet, but Patriotic Alliance stands firm behind the President

South Africa’s fledgling Government of National Unity (GNU) is facing its first serious political rift and it’s playing out like a high-stakes power struggle on the national stage.

In a fiery defence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Patriotic Alliance deputy president Kenny Kunene has hit back at the Democratic Alliance (DA) for threatening to table a motion of no confidence in the head of state. According to Kunene, the DA is merely grandstanding, and his party won’t allow what he calls “political theatre” to derail the work of the GNU.

Speaking on Newzroom Afrika on Sunday, Kunene made it clear: “As the Patriotic Alliance, we will defend the president. We will make sure this motion of no confidence does not succeed.”

The flashpoint: Andrew Whitfield’s solo US trip

At the centre of the latest political fallout is Andrew Whitfield, a DA-aligned deputy minister in the trade and industry portfolio, who was recently dismissed by Ramaphosa for jetting off to the United States without presidential approval.

Ramaphosa’s allies, including Kunene, say the president acted well within his constitutional authority. The Patriotic Alliance, a newcomer to national governance but vocal in its support for Ramaphosa, has condemned Whitfield’s actions as a blatant undermining of the president’s leadership.

“The DA doesn’t hold any cards. They did the same in Joburg, called for a no-confidence vote against the mayor knowing they didn’t have the numbers. Now they’re trying the same stunt nationally,” Kunene said.

DA fumes over ‘double standards’ and ‘corruption cover-ups’

But for DA leader John Steenhuisen, the Whitfield saga is just the tip of the iceberg. At a weekend press briefing, Steenhuisen accused Ramaphosa of operating with “arrogance, disrespect, and double standards.” He said the ANC-led government had failed to honour the GNU’s Statement of Intent, and that Ramaphosa was protecting corrupt ANC ministers while targeting DA members.

In protest, the DA has pulled out of upcoming GNU dialogue sessions, describing them as “talk shops” that lead nowhere.

“Until Ramaphosa replaces words with action against corruption, the DA will not continue to legitimise a farce,” Steenhuisen declared.

A rocky road for the coalition experiment

The GNU, formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections — was hailed as a new era of political cooperation. But barely a year in, the cracks are showing.

The DA has accused the ANC of dominating decision-making and treating smaller coalition partners as “junior passengers.” From controversial legislation to the bloated Cabinet appointments made without consultation, frustrations have boiled over.

On the streets and on social media, South Africans are split. Some see the DA’s move as bold and necessary. Others view it as premature brinkmanship that could sabotage progress.

“Coalition politics was never going to be easy,” political analyst Lindiwe Maseko told JoburgTC. “But it’s becoming clear that trust is breaking down fast and that’s a red flag for the country.”

Kunene’s growing influence in coalition dynamics

Kenny Kunene’s defense of Ramaphosa reveals how smaller parties like the Patriotic Alliance are becoming unexpected power brokers in this new political landscape.

While the DA may have more seats, it appears that parties like the PA are ready to flex their weight in coalition politics by aligning themselves strategically, not ideologically. For Kunene, loyalty to GNU stability matters more than party rivalry.

“We must condemn the DA’s threats in the strongest terms,” Kunene said. “This is not how you build a nation.”

The motion of no confidence, if tabled, will need substantial support in Parliament to proceed, something the DA doesn’t currently have. But even the threat exposes deep fissures in the GNU’s foundation.

With policy dialogues scheduled for August, and mounting pressure from the public for delivery over drama, the GNU now faces its biggest challenge: surviving its own internal contradictions.

If parties can’t find a way to govern together, South Africa’s grand experiment with coalition politics could quickly unravel and that’s a risk the country can’t afford.

{Source: IOL}

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