DA leader John Steenhuisen raises concerns over Division of Revenue Bil

Discontent among the partners of the Government of National Unity (GNU) was evident in Parliament on Thursday as DA leader John Steenhuisen raised uncertainty about his party's voting stance on the Division of Revenue Bill, following the removal of their member from Cabinet.

Although the Bill was ultimately passed, Steenhuisen’s address left the members, including Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, anxious about how the DA might use their unhappiness over the axing of deputy minister Andrew Whitfield to withdraw their votes.

Speaking during the debate, Steenhuisen started off by narrating how President Cyril Ramaphosa had informed him of his intention to fire Whitfield as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

He said he had requested 24 hours to speak to Whitfield and inform the DA.

“However, before I could even do so, just three hours later, Whitfield received a letter informing him of his removal,” said Steenhuisen.

This prompted MK Party MP Brian Molefe to raise a point of order.

“The Speaker, with respect, is irrelevant to the topic of today,” Molefe said.

House Chairperson Cedric Frolick asked Steenhuisen to get to the topic dealing with the Division of Revenue Bill.

In response, Steenhuisen said: “I am setting out the reason why we will be voting as how we will be voting in the House today on this Bill.”

This drew heckling from the EFF.

Continuing with the debate, Steenhuisen said Whitfield was fired for not obtaining permission to travel abroad earlier this year.

Steenhuisen said it would have been easy for a party treated with disdain by an irresponsible coalition partner to vote against the Bill, but the DA was "nothing like the ANC".

“The DA will always put South Africa’s interests over narrow politics. We will vote for this Bill today, not for politics, but for South Africa.”

Closing the debate, Godongwana remarked that kushushu (it is hot).

Referring to Steenhuisen, he said there were often fights when the Budget was up for discussion in the House.

“I was worried my Budget again is in trouble. These ones are going to accuse me and say I can’t budget when you guys fight over all your issues, and my budget gets trapped in these battles. I am happy to place South Africa above anything else. We appreciate it,” Godongwana said.

Only the MK Party objected to the second reading of the Bill, and the Division of Revenue Bill was sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

Cape Argus