President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed deputy minister of trade and industry Andrew Whitfield, allegedly for insubordination.
This is according to two highly placed sources, who said Ramaphosa had alerted DA leader John Steenhuisen days before the announcement.
This comes after the Presidency announced that the president had removed Whitfield, citing Section 93(1) of the constitution.
“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,” the Presidency said.
The insiders who spoke to TimesLIVE Premium said Ramaphosa had removed Whitfield after his trip to the US, where a DA delegation, including MP Emma Powell, met US President Donald Trump's administration.
An insider in the ANC said Ramaphosa had declined a request by Whitfield and forestry, fisheries and the environment minister Dion George to travel to the US following the fallout between Washington and Pretoria.
The ANC leader said that Whitfield had acted against the wishes of his boss and irritated Ramaphosa even further after the DA expressed its dissatisfaction to the Trump leadership with what it said were raced-based policies of the South African government.
“He acted against the wishes of the president and even went as far as misleading the US about our policies. He needed to go — it was just a matter of time,” the insider said.
Another insider linked to the DA said Steenhuisen had appealed to Ramaphosa to reverse his decision. They said Ramaphosa was, however, unmoved.
While the ANC leader said Ramaphosa had declined the request to travel to the US by the leaders in his executive, the DA was of the view that Ramaphosa had not responded to the request to travel to the US.
“They [George and Whitfield] made a formal request to take the trip and the president did not respond. Dion decided he would not go, but Andrew took special leave and travelled with Emma. I think it's going to be a sticking point in the DA,” the insider said.
They said this could further fuel those within the DA who want the party to leave the government of national unity (GNU).
The insiders added that while federal council chair Helen Zille had called for a meeting of the federal executive, she was made aware of the decision before the announcement.
Helen [Zille] is just throwing her toys. She knew this was coming. She was told. The issue I suspect is that Andrew is one of the few people she has in the executive. Losing Andrew in the executive will be a massive blow to her
— Insider
Zille announced she was calling the meeting following the statement by the presidency.
“I have convened an urgent meeting of the DA’s federal executive today, following the actions of President Cyril Ramaphosa around the composition of the national executive of the government of national unity,” she said.
The federal executive will meet later on Thursday, said Zille.
“Helen is just throwing her toys. She knew this was coming. She was told,” the insider said.
“The issue I suspect is that Andrew is one of the few people she has in the executive. Losing Andrew in the executive will be a massive blow to her. But also Andrew comes from the Eastern Cape. That is one of the biggest provinces, so we must show that we have fought for him.”
Ramaphosa's decision is likely to kickstart another debate over the DA's position in the GNU, they said.
“When we last met during the budget drama, people wanted out of the GNU — so it would not be hard for Helen or anyone to lobby people and get the required numbers to leave the GNU, but I doubt it will happen.
“Her followers might feel John did not fight hard enough. But I can tell you he did fight. John was short of begging Cyril to reverse his decision, but the president was not moved.”
Steenhuisen's comments will be added once received.
This is a developing story.
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