Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield says President Cyril Ramaphosa has not given him a reason for his dismissal.
Yesterday, the Presidency announced Whitfields removal, who is from the largest Government of National Unity GNU partner, the Democratic Alliance DA.
The DA has since given Ramaphosa 48 hours to reconsider his decision , threatening dire consequences for the GNU.
He says, "I received a letter on Wednesday and that letter didnt provide any explanation but thanked me for my service and reiterated the Presidents legal prerogative to appoint and disappoint, in this case."
"One of the reasons may very well be that I travelled to the US United States earlier this year. I did request permission from the President, after 10 days I had not received a response and I undertook to go, obviously at risk, but I undertook to go because my party had asked me to go."