Steenhuisen condemns Ramaphosa's dismissal of Whitfield amid corruption allegations
The fired deputy minister of Trade and Industry, Andrew Whitfield.
Image: DTIC
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has expressed concerns regarding President Ramaphosa's decision to dismiss DA deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield, over a travel issue, while ANC ministers implicated in the VBS and SETA scandals remain in their positions.
The presidency confirmed on Thursday that Ramaphosa had removed Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
It is believed he was removed over insubordination related to an unauthorised overseas trip earlier this year.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa acted in accordance with Section 93(1) of the Constitution, thanking Whitfield for his service but offering no indication of a broader Cabinet reshuffle.
However, Steenhuisen, who also serves as Minister of Agriculture, raised concerns about the decision.
'Yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa put South Africa's future at stake,' said Steenhuisen during a parliamentary debate on the Division of Revenue Bill on Thursday afternoon.
'Shortly before the Cabinet met, he informed me of his intent to remove Andrew Whitfield. I asked for 24 hours to consult my party. But just three hours later, Whitfield received a letter informing him of his dismissal.'
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According to Steenhuisen, the reasoning was that Whitfield travelled abroad without presidential permission, but he insists the facts contradict that claim.
'On February 12, Whitfield wrote to the president requesting permission to travel to the United States, as required by the Ministerial Handbook,' Steenhuisen said.
'Ten days later, he had received no response and departed. He later wrote to apologise if the trip had caused offence - again, with no reply from the president.'
Steenhuisen criticised President Ramaphosa for removing Whitfield over a technical infraction while not taking action against ANC ministers who are allegedly involved in more serious misconduct.
'While a DA deputy minister is removed for not receiving a response to a travel request, Thembi Simelane remains in Cabinet despite being implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal,' he said.
Simelane, who was once the mayor of Polokwane, took a R575,600 loan from the now-defunct bank to buy a coffee shop in Sandton. She has denied any wrongdoing.
Steenhuisen also called out Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who recently faced backlash after appointing politically connected individuals, including the son of ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe - to SETA boards.
Those appointments were later withdrawn following allegations of nepotism.
'Instead of being fired, Simelane was merely asked to submit a report to the president and reassigned to another portfolio,' Steenhuisen said.
'Serial underperformers and those implicated in state capture remain seated at the Cabinet table.'
He also referenced Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, who has been implicated in serious corruption allegations by the Zondo Commission, yet remains in government. Steenhuisen suggested that some perceive Whitfield's removal as a consequence of his actions.
'Andrew Whitfield was succeeding. He opposed corrupt appointments and blocked looting linked to the Transformation Fund in a department already tainted by corruption involving the National Lottery,' he said.
'It's hard to escape the conclusion that DA ministers are being fired not for committing corruption, but for fighting it.'
He warned that the decision could destabilise the fragile Government of National Unity (GNU).
'If this is not urgently corrected, it will go down as the greatest political mistake in modern South African history,' he said.
'The DA therefore calls on the president to fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo, and other ANC ministers implicated in corruption within 48 hours.'
Steenhuisen warned that failure to act would have consequences.
'If they fail to do so, the ANC will bear full responsibility. They did not have to do this - they triggered everything that follows,' he said.
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Last year, Ramaphosa reshuffled Thembi Simelane from her position as justice minister to the Human Settlements portfolio, after a Daily Maverick and News24 investigation revealed that she had received a R500,000 'loan' from a company that had brokered investments with the looted VBS Mutual Bank. On Thursday, Steenhuisen called the 'drastic unilateral action' against Whitfield the 'product of a flagrant double standard'. 'While a DA deputy minister is removed for not getting a response to seeking permission to travel, Thembi Simelane remains in Cabinet despite being implicated in the VBS looting. Nobuhle Nkabane remains in Cabinet despite apparently misleading Parliament over an attempt to deploy corrupt cadres to Seta [Sector Education and Training Authority] boards. 'Serial underperformers, as well as people implicated in State Capture, continue to sit around the Cabinet table. Instead of being summarily fired, Simelane was merely asked to submit a 'report' on the allegations against her to the President and moved to another portfolio. 'In the past, even ministers who had serious Public Protector findings [against them] were merely admonished or had their pay docked. David Mahlobo is implicated in the most serious corruption by the State Capture commission, yet he continues in the position as deputy minister of water and sanitation. 'Yet a DA deputy minister is dismissed with the flimsiest of excuses,' continued Steenhuisen. He said the party called on Ramaphosa to 'fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption within the next 48 hours'. 'If they fail to do so, the ANC will inflict grave consequences on South Africa. Make no mistake about it: what happens next is entirely on the ANC and President Ramaphosa,' warned Steenhuisen. He said the next 48 hours would be 'the moment of truth'. 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