JOHANNESBURG - The DA is furious with President Cyril Ramaphosa after he fired Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Andrew Whitfield.
A DA member of Parliament, Whitfield was serving in Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity.
eNCA has confirmed that Whitfield was removed for travelling to the US as part of a DA delegation, even though the president had warned against it.
DA chairperson John Steenhuisen responded to the decision, saying, "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."
"To make matters even worse, this drastic unilateral action appears to be the product of a flagrant double standard."
DA federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, has called an urgent federal executive meeting to respond to the matter.
She stated in an X (Twitter) post, "The President has been guilty of serious hypocrisy and double standards. Andrew Whitfield applied to go abroad. The President did not respond, despite several follow-ups from Whitfield's office. Whitfield did everything he was required to do. Yet the President fires him and protects corrupt Ministers. John has made it clear: we will not take this lying down."
The party has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the president, demanding he dismiss "compromised ministers" including Thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane, and David Mahlobo.
🚨 In the wake of firing DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield for fighting corruption, the DA has issued an ultimatum for Ramaphosa to fire the compromised Ministers in his cabinet within 48 hours, including Simelane, Nkabane and Mahlobo.
Read more here: https://t.co/cMUqGkuAZi pic.twitter.com/hLAuD6cEM4— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) June 26, 2025
The Presidency says Cyril Ramaphosa does not owe anyone an explanation over why he fired the DA MP.