Steenhuisen condemns Ramaphosa's dismissal of Whitfield amid corruption allegations

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has expressed concerns regarding President Ramaphosa's decision to dismiss DA deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield, over a travel issue, while ANC ministers implicated in the VBS and SETA scandals remain in their positions.

The presidency confirmed on Thursday that Ramaphosa had removed Whitfield as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

It is believed he was removed over insubordination related to an unauthorised overseas trip earlier this year.

The Presidency said Ramaphosa acted in accordance with Section 93(1) of the Constitution, thanking Whitfield for his service but offering no indication of a broader Cabinet reshuffle.

However, Steenhuisen, who also serves as Minister of Agriculture, raised concerns about the decision.

“Yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa put South Africa’s future at stake,” said Steenhuisen during a parliamentary debate on the Division of Revenue Bill on Thursday afternoon.

“Shortly before the Cabinet met, he informed me of his intent to remove Andrew Whitfield. I asked for 24 hours to consult my party. But just three hours later, Whitfield received a letter informing him of his dismissal.”

According to Steenhuisen, the reasoning was that Whitfield travelled abroad without presidential permission, but he insists the facts contradict that claim.

“On February 12, Whitfield wrote to the president requesting permission to travel to the United States, as required by the Ministerial Handbook,” Steenhuisen said. 

“Ten days later, he had received no response and departed. He later wrote to apologise if the trip had caused offence - again, with no reply from the president.”

Steenhuisen criticised President Ramaphosa for removing Whitfield over a technical infraction while not taking action against ANC ministers who are allegedly involved in more serious misconduct.

“While a DA deputy minister is removed for not receiving a response to a travel request, Thembi Simelane remains in Cabinet despite being implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal,” he said.

Simelane, who was once the mayor of Polokwane, took a R575,600 loan from the now-defunct bank to buy a coffee shop in Sandton. She has denied any wrongdoing.

Steenhuisen also called out Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, who recently faced backlash after appointing politically connected individuals, including the son of ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe - to SETA boards. 

Those appointments were later withdrawn following allegations of nepotism.

“Instead of being fired, Simelane was merely asked to submit a report to the president and reassigned to another portfolio,” Steenhuisen said. 

“Serial underperformers and those implicated in state capture remain seated at the Cabinet table.”

He also referenced Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, who has been implicated in serious corruption allegations by the Zondo Commission, yet remains in government. Steenhuisen suggested that some perceive Whitfield's removal as a consequence of his actions.

“Andrew Whitfield was succeeding. He opposed corrupt appointments and blocked looting linked to the Transformation Fund in a department already tainted by corruption involving the National Lottery,” he said. 

“It’s hard to escape the conclusion that DA ministers are being fired not for committing corruption, but for fighting it.”

He warned that the decision could destabilise the fragile Government of National Unity (GNU).

“If this is not urgently corrected, it will go down as the greatest political mistake in modern South African history,” he said. 

“The DA therefore calls on the president to fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo, and other ANC ministers implicated in corruption within 48 hours.”

Steenhuisen warned that failure to act would have consequences.

“If they fail to do so, the ANC will bear full responsibility. They did not have to do this - they triggered everything that follows,” he said.

Despite the move, Steenhuisen said the DA would vote in favour of the Division of Revenue Bill on Thursday.

“It would be easy to vote against this bill out of protest,” he said. “But because we are nothing like the ANC, we are voting for this bill for the good of South Africa.”

DA federal council chairperson Helen Zille confirmed Thursday that the party's Federal Executive had been convened for an urgent meeting to respond to the developments.

“I have convened an urgent meeting of the DA’s Federal Executive today, following the actions of President Cyril Ramaphosa around the composition of the national executive,” Zille said.

She said the party would provide further comment after the meeting.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics