JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has broken his silence on the dismissal of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield.
Ramaphosa says he dismissed Whitfield for undertaking a trip to the United States without his approval.
READ | Ramaphosa removes Andrew Whitfield as deputy minister
The trip in question was in March, when Whitfield joined a DA delegation that held meetings with US lawmakers and representatives of the Trump administration
"This practice [of all international travel being undertaken with the express permission of the president] is rigorously observed and adhered to by all members of the executive. However, Whitfield deliberately chose to violate this rule and practice," the president said.
Whitfield’s dismissal caused a stir.
In its response the DA said: "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."
It then issued the president an ultimatum: Provide an explanation within 48 hours.
But Ramaphosa would not yield, saying he informed DA leader John Steenhuisen of his intention to remove Whitfield and requested that he present a candidate for replacement.
The president maintains that there are no reasonable grounds for Steenhuisen and the DA to issue ultimatums and threats when he exercises his “constitutional prerogative and responsibility”.