Dear John is messing up

What a cringingly embarrassing week this has been for DA leader John Steenhuisen and his party.

- William Saunderson-Meyer

In response to President Cyril Ramaphosa firing deputy trade minister Andrew Whitfield over an unsanctioned trip to the US in February, Steenhuisen lost the plot. He launched into a foot-stomping, shin-kicking display of petulance worthy of a thwarted two-year-old. In the end, it had much the same effect as most childish tantrums: none.

It was the wrong move over the wrong issue at the wrong time.

Yes, Whitfield had applied for permission to travel and the habitually prevaricating Ramaphosa had not replied. But the president had expressly forbidden any member of his administration to travel to the US.

Yes, Ramaphosa is firing Whitfield for a minor peccadillo while retaining several patently corrupt ministers in his Cabinet. But that is his presidential prerogative.