Fire ANC errant ministers, deputies as well or else....DA tells Ramaphosa

THE DA  has  accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of applying a double standard in firing its member  Andrew Whitfield as Trade, Industry and Competition deputy minister, citing cases of ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption who remain in their positions. 

A brief statement from the Presidency thanked Whitfield 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.

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

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

"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," Steenhuisen said.

The party said serial underperformers, as well as people implicated in state capture, continued to sit around the Cabinet table.

The party specifically mentioned Thembi Simelane, who remains in Cabinet despite allegations that she benefited from the VBS looting scandal, and Nobuhle Nkabane, who apparently misled Parliament over an attempt to deploy questionable ANC members to SETA boards.

Steenhuisen  gave Ramaphosa 48 hours to fire Simelane, Nkabane, and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers. If Ramaphosa fails to do so, the DA has warned that the consequences will be severe. It did not disclose what these could be. 

The ultimatum has significant implications for the GNU and the future of the coalition. 

The DA has made it clear that it will not be intimidated or bullied by the ANC and will stand up for its principles and values.

Its decision to vote for the Division of Revenue Bill (DORA) despite the controversy surrounding Whitfield's removal is a testament to the party's commitment to putting South Africa's interests first, according to Steenhuisen.

"We will vote for DORA today, not for politics, but for South Africa. With this vote, we are demonstrating just how different the DA is from the ANC. We are responsible custodians of executive power. Even under the most difficult of conditions, we can always be trusted to put the people's interests first."

Earlier, DA Federal Executive Chairperson, Helen Zille, indicated that she had called an urgent meeting to discuss the matter.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya had not yet responded to questions on what the president would do about the ultimatum; however, he did communicate that it would not be a whole Cabinet reshuffle.

Cape Times