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.
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