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 on Thursday.

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

The DA 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.

“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 DA has also accused Ramaphosa of applying a double standard, citing the cases of ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption who remain in their positions. 

“Serial underperformers, as well as people implicated in state capture, continue to sit around the Cabinet table,” the DA said.

The party specifically mentioned Thembi Simelane, who remains in Cabinet despite being implicated in the VBS looting scandal, and Nobuhle Nkabane, who apparently misled Parliament over an attempt to deploy corrupt cadres to SETA boards.

It has given Ramaphosa 48 hours to fire Simelane, Nkabane, and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption. If Ramaphosa fails to do so, the DA has warned that the consequences will be severe.

“We call on the president to fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo, and other ANC ministers and deputy ministers implicated in corruption within the next 48 hours,” the DA said. 

“If they fail to do so, the ANC will inflict grave consequences on South Africa.”

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 on Thursday, the DA’s 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.

There have been increasing calls from ANC officials to act against the DA for going against it on various issues, including the Employment Equity Act, National Health Insurance, the Expropriation Act, and the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act.

Some DA members have also been calling for a withdrawal from the GNU because they believe the two parties are not seeing eye to eye.

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za

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