Removal of DA's Andrew Whitfield from Cabinet tied to insubordination

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has remained silent on the sudden removal of DA politician Andrew Whitfield from his role as one of the deputy ministers at Trade, Industry and Competition.

Eyewitness News understands that Whitfield’s dismissal may be linked to insubordination over a DA-led trip to Washington undertaken without the President's approval.

Earlier Ramaphosa’s office confirmed the removal, saying this was not an indication of a wholesale cabinet reshuffle.

History of similar dismissals

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was fired by South Africa’s founding president Nelson Mandela in 1995, one of the reasons was she took an unauthorised personal trip abroad.
 
In 2007 – President Thabo Mbeki – Mandela’s successor also dismissed then deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge after she attended an HIV/Aids conference in Madrid without his permission.

Fast forward to 2025 and the DA’s Andrew Whitfield suffers the same fate. On his part, it’s a trip to the US in March without President Cyril Ramaphosa’s authorisation that did him in.

Several government insiders have told Eyewitness News that even when travel is in one’s private capacity, permission must be sought.

As the DA enters an emergency federal council meeting, some of its cabinet members are fuming accusing the president and his party of abuse.