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President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile chaired the first cabinet meeting under the Government of National Unity (GNU) on July 9, 2024.
Details are emerging of the reasons for the sacking of the Deputy Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, and Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Andrew Whitfield.
Whitfield was fired by President Cyril Ramaphosa after failing to secure the president’s permission to travel to the US in his personal capacity as part of the delegation that met with the Trump administration, earlier this year.
The DA has given President Rampahosa 48 hours to reconsider his decision, threatening dire consequences for the government of national unity.
“It is because deputy minister Whitfield, visited the United States, earlier this year, without having the proper prior confirmation that he can do so from the president. He did, however, apply to the president, and he notified the president of the dates, but the president, in 10 days, did not respond,” says DA Spokesperson, Willie Aucamp.
[WATCH] DA leader John Steenhuisen, responding to Andrew Whitfield’s axing, says: “On the 12th of February, Andrew Whitfield wrote to the President requesting permission to travel. Ten days later, he had not received a reply or any response.” pic.twitter.com/mpxt0N0BK1
— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 26, 2025
Aucamp says Deputy Minister Whitfield also wrote a letter to the president, where he apologised and explained the situation.
“The DA’s ultimatum is that the president must fire the people in his own cabinet that faced charges such as Justice Minister Thembi Simelane and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni; ministers who are really disgraceful to this parliament,” he added.
VIDEO| Andrew Whitfield Sacking | DA challenges President Ramaphosa to fire others
