Latest news with #AndrewWhitfield
Eyewitness News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Removal of DA's Andrew Whitfield from Cabinet tied to insubordination
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa's office has remained silent on the sudden removal of DA politician Andrew Whitfield from his role as one of the deputy ministers at Trade, Industry and Competition. Eyewitness News understands that Whitfield's dismissal may be linked to insubordination over a DA-led trip to Washington undertaken without the President's approval. Earlier Ramaphosa's office confirmed the removal, saying this was not an indication of a wholesale cabinet reshuffle. History of similar dismissals Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was fired by South Africa's founding president Nelson Mandela in 1995, one of the reasons was she took an unauthorised personal trip abroad. In 2007 – President Thabo Mbeki – Mandela's successor also dismissed then deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge after she attended an HIV/Aids conference in Madrid without his permission.
IOL News
10 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
DA issues 48-hour ultimatum to Ramaphosa over corruption allegations
Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Andrew Whitfield, has been dismissed from his position. Image: DTIC / X The DA has given President Cyril Ramaphosa a 48-hour ultimatum to fire several ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption or face the consequences. The ultimatum comes after Ramaphosa's sudden decision to remove DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield from his position on Thursday. The Presidency confirmed the dismissal of Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Andrew Whitfield, plunging the Government of National Unity (GNU) into shaky ground. Whitfield, a DA Member of Parliament, was serving in the Ramaphosa-led GNU. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading A brief statement from the Presidency thanked him for his service but gave no reason for his removal. 'The Presidency can confirm that in terms of Section 93(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed the Hon. Andrew Whitfield, MP, from the position of Deputy Minister for Trade,' the statement read, putting the GNU in a tidal wave. The DA has accused Ramaphosa of a "calculated political assault" on the party and has expressed outrage over Whitfield's removal. According to DA leader John Steenhuisen, in a letter written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, Whitfield was removed for not obtaining permission to travel abroad, but the facts contradict this reasoning. "There is no other conclusion to be drawn than that this is a calculated political assault on the second-largest party in the governing coalition," Steenhuisen said. The DA has also accused Ramaphosa of applying a double standard, citing the cases of ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption who remain in their positions. "Serial underperformers, as well as people implicated in state capture, continue to sit around the Cabinet table," the DA said. The party specifically mentioned Thembi Simelane, who remains in Cabinet despite being implicated in the VBS looting scandal, and Nobuhle Nkabane, who apparently misled Parliament over an attempt to deploy corrupt cadres to SETA boards. It has given Ramaphosa 48 hours to fire Simelane, Nkabane, and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption. If Ramaphosa fails to do so, the DA has warned that the consequences will be severe. "We call on the president to fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo, and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption within the next 48 hours," the DA said. "If they fail to do so, the ANC will inflict grave consequences on South Africa." The ultimatum has significant implications for the GNU and the future of the coalition. The DA has made it clear that it will not be intimidated or bullied by the ANC and will stand up for its principles and values. Its decision to vote for the Division of Revenue Bill (DORA) despite the controversy surrounding Whitfield's removal is a testament to the party's commitment to putting South Africa's interests first, according to Steenhuisen. "We will vote for DORA today, not for politics, but for South Africa. With this vote, we are demonstrating just how different the DA is from the ANC. We are responsible custodians of executive power. Even under the most difficult of conditions, we can always be trusted to put the people's interests first." Earlier on Thursday, the DA's Federal Executive Chairperson, Helen Zille, indicated that she had called an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had not yet responded to questions on what the president would do about the ultimatum; however, he did communicate that it would not be a whole Cabinet reshuffle. There have been increasing calls from ANC officials to act against the DA for going against it on various issues, including the Employment Equity Act, National Health Insurance, the Expropriation Act, and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. Some DA members have also been calling for a withdrawal from the GNU because they believe the two parties are not seeing eye to eye.
Bloomberg
11 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ramaphosa Fires Deputy Minister, Straining South African Coalition
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa fired a deputy minister from the second-largest party in the ruling coalition on Thursday, a move that renews strain on the stability of his administration. Ramaphosa dismissed Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Andrew Whitfield of the Democratic Alliance without providing reasons for his removal. The party's leader John Steenhuisen said Whitfield was axed because he traveled abroad after the president failed to respond to his request to go, yet members of Ramaphosa's Africa National Congress retained their cabinet posts despite having been implicated in looting and corruption.
News24
12 hours ago
- Business
- News24
DA supports Budget 3.0, despite Whitfield axing
Despite having one of its deputy ministers in the government of national unity (GNU) axed, the DA has given its full support to ensuring the adoption of the national Budget. However, it has given President Cyril Ramaphosa 48 hours to prove that the party is not standing alone as one 'that can be trusted.' During Thursday's debate on the Division of Revenue Bill in Parliament, DA leader John Steenhuisen said: 'The ball is now in the president's court, and he must show us now that he's a man of his word. It would be very easy for a party that had been treated with such disdain by a coalition partner to vote against this bill. 'But precisely because we are nothing like the ANC, the DA will always put South Africa's interests over narrow party interests. We will vote for this bill, not for politics, but for South Africa.' Steenhuisen added that the DA wanted to demonstrate to its GNU partners that it was a reliable party. 'When we say we're going to do something, we will do it,' he said. On Wednesday, Ramaphosa axed Andrew Whitfield, the deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, who is also a DA member.
The Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Ramaphosa axes DA's Whitfield as deputy minister of trade and industry
President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired deputy trade, industry and competition minister Andrew Whitfield. Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Thursday confirmed the president used his prerogative to remove Whitfield from his executive in terms of the constitution. Magwenya said Ramaphosa has already informed Whitfield of his decision. 'The Presidency can confirm that in terms of section 93(1) of the constitution President Ramaphosa has removed Andrew Whitfield, MP, from the position of deputy minister for trade, industry and competition. The president has thanked the former deputy minister for the time he served in the role.' Though the removal of Whitfield comes amid calls for Ramaphosa to fire higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane over the handling of the botched Seta board appointments, Magwenya said there was no indication there would be a cabinet reshuffle. It is believed Ramaphosa's axing of Whitfield was probably linked to a trip to the US by a DA delegation. Ramaphosa is said to have warned Whitfield against being part of the delegation led by the DA's Emma Powell but he disregarded the warning. Two senior members of the executive told TimesLIVE that, though not confirmed, Whitfield's axing was probably because of this. 'Remember he [Whitfield] went to the US after the president said he shouldn't,' said one senior member of the executive, with another adding, 'it was a cabinet decision' that Whitfield should not be part of the DA's delegation 'but he insisted, claiming he is going there not as a deputy minister'. The dismissal of Whitfield is likely to cause further tensions between the DA and the ANC in the government of national unity (GNU) as it appears Ramaphosa fired him without consulting the DA. The decision has triggered the DA's federal council chair Helen Zille to call an urgent federal executive meeting on Thursday to discuss its implications. 'I have convened an urgent meeting of the DA's federal executive after the actions of President Ramaphosa around the composition of the national executive of the GNU,' said Zille. 'The DA's federal executive will meet later today [Thursday] and the DA will give further comment later.' TimesLIVE
