Ramaphosa gets 48-hour ultimatum after firing Minister

By Mark Ogagan

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa over what they call an unjust firing of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Andrew Whitfield.

It emerged during the post-cabinet briefing that Whitfield had been removed with no plans for a cabinet reshuffle.

DA leader, John Steenhuisen, has called on the president to remove corrupt ANC ministers within 48 hours or run the risk of adverse results from the firing of Whitfield.

“This is a calculated assault on the second largest party in the governing coalition. What makes matters worse is that this unilateral decision is a result, and a product of a flagrant double standard. While a DA deputy minister is removed for not getting a response to seeking permission to travel, there are members in the cabinet who are implicated in the VBS scandal and looting. There are members in the cabinet who, despite apparently misleading parliament over an attempt to deploy corrupt cadres to Seta boards, remain in the cabinet,” charges Steenhuisen.