Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Andrew Whitfield from his post as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition.
Commenting on the move, amid speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Spokesperson to the President, Vincent Magwenya, on Thursday, 26 June 2025, confirmed to talk radio 702 that Whitfield had been removed as deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
No reasons were provided, but Magwenya denied there would be a Cabinet reshuffle.
Reacting to the removal of Whitfield from the deputy minister position, Helen Zille, the DA Federal Council Chairperson, said she had called for an urgent meeting with her party’s senior members.
“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 of the Government of National Unity,” Zille said in a terse statement.
“The DA’s Federal Executive will meet later today, and the DA will give further comment thereafter.”
