Ramaphosa to reshuffle Cabinet, drops DA deputy minister
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to announce changes to his Cabinet, dropping at least one DA deputy minister from the executive, according to sources.
News24 has reliably learnt that Andrew Whitfield, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition is among those who have already received the presidential letter thanking them for their service, which has now been terminated.
It is understood that the reshuffle was triggered by Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane's debacle over the controversial appointment of chairs of Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) boards.
There have been calls for Ramaphosa to fire Nkabane over the saga, including from respected academic, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, who described Nkabane as a disgrace and an embarrassment.
Ramaphosa may be using this opportunity to rejig his executive, although he is likely to butt heads with the DA over this development. During the GNU negotiations, the party fought hard for a DA member to serve in the trade and industry portfolio.
Neither Whitfield nor his party leader John Steenhuisen were available for comment on Thursday morning.
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