President Cyril Ramaphosa has lambasted Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen and warned that he’ll not yield to threats and ultimatums.
His comments come after the DA gave Ramaphosa 48hrs to reverse the dismissal of Andrew Whitfield from the position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Ramaphosa said he fired Whitfield for undertaking an unsanctioned trip to the US without his permission.
In addition, Ramaphosa said it is unusual for the president to provide reasons for his prerogative decisions, however, due to several unfortunate statements and outright distortions by several people, especially Steenhuisen and Whitfield himself, he deemed it necessary to clarify his decision.
“His (Whitfield) travel to the United States was a clear violation of the rules and established practices governing the conduct of Members of the Executive. 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,” said Ramaphosa.
The president said these rules and practices were repeated in the Cabinet in March this year, to remind them that all international travel by members of the executive must be approved by him. always be undertaken with the express permission of the President.
Ramaphosa said he informed Steenhuisen about the pending dismissal of Whitfield, and for him to submit his replacement from the DA, as the party is entitled to a Deputy Minister as agreed.
“In that discussion, Steenhuisen informed me that 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 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,” explained Ramaphosa.
The president said the removal of Whitfield is not unusual, as there’s prior precedent for that.
I told him (Steeenhuisen) 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,” remarked Ramaphosa.
The president warned that he will not heed to ultimatums and threats from Steenhuisen and the DA, when exercising his constitutional prerogative and responsibility.
He cautioned them not to cause distortions, by attempting to link Whitfield’s dismissal 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.
“While Steenhuisen asked that he be allowed to brief the DA Federal Executive prior to the removal letter being delivered to Whitfield, this would have had no bearing on my decision.
“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 Steenhuisen’s intemperate reaction to the removal of 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,” said Ramaphosa.
Furthermore, the president said it is unprecedented that his Executive decision has been met with such irresponsible and unjustifiable threats and ultimatums from a member of the executive.
“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,” warned Ramaphosa.
