The Democratic Alliance DA has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire African National Congress ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption.
If Ramaphosa fails to meet this ultimatum, there will be grave consequences for South Africa, DA leader John Steenhuisen said in Parliament on Thursday 26 June.
He was reacting to Ramaphosas decision to fire Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Andrew Whitfield earlier on Tuesday.
The Presidency can confirm that in terms of Section 931 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, Industry and Competition, the Presidency said in a statement.
The President has thanked the former deputy minister for the time he served in the role. However, the President has not indicated any intention to conduct a wholesale cabinet reshuffle.
DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille subsequently called an urgent meeting of the partys Federal Executive to discuss the matter.
Steenhuisen slams Ramaphosa for firing WhitfieldIn his address in Parliament, Steenhuisen revealed that Ramaphosa had removed Whitfield for failing to obtain his permission before travelling to the United States US earlier this year.
He said the President had informed him of his intention to axe Whitfield on Wednesday before the Cabinet met. I requested 24 hours to speak to Whitfield and my party, Steenhuisen recalled.
However, before I could even do so, just three hours later, Whitfield received a letter informing him of his removal.
The DA leader claimed Whitfield had in fact written to Ramaphosa to obtain permission, as required by the Ministerial Handbook . The ex-Deputy Minister embarked on his trip after failing to receive a response 10 days later.