DA's 48-hour ultimatum for Ramaphosa

Party wants the president to fire several ANC ministers

- MASHUDU SADIKE

THE DA has given President Cyril Ramaphosa a 48-hour ultimatum to fire several ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption or face the consequences.

The ultimatum comes after Ramaphosa's sudden decision to remove DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield from his position yesterday.

The Presidency confirmed the dismissal of Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Andrew Whitfield, plunging the Government of National Unity (GNU) onto shaky ground.

Whitfield, a DA Member of Parliament, was serving in the Ramaphosa-led GNU.

A brief statement from the Presidency thanked him for his service but gave no reason for his removal.

“The Presidency can confirm that in terms of Section 93(1) 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,” the statement read, putting the GNU in a tidal wave.

Other news reports suggested that Whitfield had been removed due to him taking an unauthorised trip to the US.

The DA, however, has accused Ramaphosa of a “calculated political assault” on the party and has expressed outrage over Whitfield's removal.

According to DA leader John Steenhuisen, in a letter written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, Whitfield was removed for not obtaining permission to travel abroad, but the facts contradict this reasoning.