Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has broken his silence on sacking Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield, and subsequent threats of unspecified action if he does not reverse his decision “within 48 hours”.
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Soon after the announcement of Whifield’s sacking, on Thursday 26 June 2025, the leader of the Government of National Unity partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and also Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, issued an ultimatum to President Ramaphosa.
“Should the ANC [African National Congress] fail to meet our ultimatum, all bets are off and the consequences will be theirs to bear,” Steenhuisen stated in the National Assembly.
However, on Friday, 27 June 2025, President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated: “Let it be clear that the President shall not yield to threats and ultimatums, especially coming from members of the executive that he has the prerogative to appoint in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa”.
Magwenya added: “It is unprecedented in the history of our democracy that the exercise by the President of his constitutional prerogative and responsibility with respect to a clear violation of rules and established practices governing the conduct of members of the executive has met with such irresponsible and unjustifiable threats and ultimatums from a member of the executive.”
President Ramaphosa has also revealed the reason he fired Whitfield.
“On 25 June 2025, I removed Mr. Andrew Whitfield from the position of deputy minister of Trade, Industry and Competition in terms of section 93 (1) of the Constitution.
“It is not common practice for the President of the Republic of South Africa to provide reasons either for the appointment or dismissal of Members of the Executive.
“However, due to several unfortunate statements and outright distortions by a number of people, especially Mr. John Steenhuisen and Mr. Whitfield himself, it is necessary for me to make a public statement on the circumstances surrounding Mr. Whitfield’s removal.”
President Ramaphosa said Whitfield was fired as Deputy Minister because he undertook an international visit without permission.
“His travel to the United States was a clear violation of the rules and established practices governing the conduct of Members of the Executive,” the President said.
“This requirement is known to all ministers and deputy ministers.
“These rules and established practices were expressly communicated to all members of the executive during the induction sessions at the commencement of the 7th Administration.”
These rules and practices were repeated in the Cabinet in March this year by me as President.
All international travel by members of the executive must always be undertaken with the express permission of the President.
“This practice is rigorously observed and adhered to by all members of the Executive,” the President noted.
“However, Mr Whitfield deliberately chose to violate this rule and practice.”
President Ramaphosa revealed that contrary to claims of ignorance on the reason Whitfield was fired, the DA leader was fully aware, as he had been informed.
“Prior to the removal of Mr Whitfield, I informed Minister John Steenhuisen as the leader of the DA that I had decided to remove Mr. Whitfield from his position as deputy minister and that I expect him to present to me for approval a replacement for Mr. Whitfield from his party as the DA is entitled to a deputy minister as agreed.”
President Ramaphosa added: “In that discussion, Mr. Steenhuisen informed me that Mr. Whitfield had been expecting that he may be dismissed on the grounds that he had undertaken an international trip without the President’s permission.
“This expectation, along with a perfunctory letter of apology that Mr. Whitfield wrote to me following his travel to the USA without the required permission, indicated that he was aware that his actions had violated the rules and established practices governing the conduct of members of the executive.”
“During my discussion with Mr. Steenhuisen, he asked me if there was precedent for the action that I intended to take in relation to Mr. Whitfield.
“I informed him that there was indeed prior precedent.”
The President said he reminded Steenhuisen that in 1995, President Nelson Mandela dismissed the late Deputy Minister Madikizela-Mandela, and that in 2007, President Thabo Mbeki dismissed then Deputy Minister Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge on the grounds of undertaking international travel without permission.
“Given all these circumstances, there are consequently no reasonable grounds for Mr. Steenhuisen and the Democratic Alliance to issue ultimatums and threats when the President exercises his constitutional prerogative and responsibility.
“Nor are there any grounds to try to link this with matters that have no bearing on the conduct of the former Deputy Minister.
“There is really no basis for suggestions that the dismissal of the former deputy minister is related to any other reason than his failure to receive permission to travel and adhere to the rules and established practices expected of members of the executive of the Republic of South Africa.”
The President said while Steenhuisen asked that he be allowed to brief the DA Federal Executive before the removal letter was delivered to Whitfield, “this would have had no bearing on my decision”.
President Ramaphosa stated: “It is the responsibility and the prerogative of the President to determine the timing and manner of the appointment and removal of members of the executive.
“I am amazed at Mr. Steenhuisen’s intemperate reaction to the removal of Mr. Whitfield.
“He knows very well that the blatant disregard of the rules and practices that govern the international travel of members of the executive is a serious violation that should not be permitted.”
