
DA has numbers to bring government down
CAPE TOWN - DA federal chair, Helen Zille, is not mincing her words, saying the party 'will not be messed around' with and warning that the DA has the numbers to bring government to its knees if necessary.
While the DA has chosen to remain in the Government of National Unity, it has withdrawn from the National Dialogue – dismissing it as a waste of time.
Zille says the African National Congress is trying to use the dialogue to steal money for the party's 2026 election campaign.
Party leader, John Steenhuisen accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa of having double standards for firing Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Whitfield. All of this, while protecting underperforming Ministers.
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Eyewitness News
23 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
Deputy minister Andrew Whitfield possibly axed for defying travel protocol
Tshidi Madia and Mbali Dhlamini 26 June 2025 | 13:00 Andrew Whitfield Cyril Ramaphosa FILE: Andrew Whitfield during his time as deputy minister of trade, industry and competition. Picture: @the_dtic/X 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 that 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. DA leader John Steenhuisen has lashed out at Ramaphosa for firing Whitfield. Steenhuisen was in Parliament on Thursday afternoon, where the Revenue Bill is under discussion. He used his time in parliament to address the developments of this afternoon, which saw a DA member axed from a top post. Steenhuisen says Whitfield was dismissed for a very flimsy offence.


Eyewitness News
23 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
National Assembly passes Division of Revenue Bill
CAPE TOWN - The National Assembly (NA) has on Thursday crossed another budget bridge by passing the Division of Revenue Bill that apportions money to the three spheres of government. This is despite new tensions between the government's two largest coalition partners over the axing of Democratic Alliance (DA) member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Whitfield as deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister. The two main opposition parties, the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF), rejected the budget; however, DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party wouldn't reject this money bill over the latest impasse. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the bill is intended to address the country's most urgent needs. "It is easy to use a slogan called austerity. Even when there's no austerity, and the budget is trying to address the basic population needs like education and health, which this budget does. But you all fight here in these meetings when I've got a budget. I was worried, John [Steenhuisen], I said, 'Oh, my budget again, is in trouble'.' The bill will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for concurrence.


Eyewitness News
23 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
Axing of Andrew Whitfield causes renewed friction in GNU
CAPE TOWN - Just as the dust appeared to be settling after a budget impasse that threatened the stability of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the axing of Democratic Alliance (DA) member, Andrew Whitfield, as deputy minister on Thursday has now caused renewed friction. The party said if President Cyril Ramaphosa is to fire Whitfield for unsanctioned international travel, then he must also axe ministers accused of corruption. DA leader John Steenhuisen gave the President 48 hours to remove compromised ministers from his executive, starting with Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister David Mahlobo. However, the Presidency made it clear on Friday that it would not comply with ultimatums and that the President had both justifiable reason and precedent from former administrations to fire Whitfield. While Steenhuisen said the DA would not be petty and withhold its vote on the Division of Revenue Bill over the latest impasse, he warned that consequences would follow. "This is now a moment of truth, within the next 48 hours, we will find out if the DA stands alone as the only party that can be trusted to govern responsibly and take South Africa forward." The Presidency said on Friday that Steenhuisen's response had been intemperate and that Whitfield had acknowledged breaking the rules in a letter following his return from the United States (US). Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon, the DA's top leadership said it would outline the impact of this move on its future within the GNU. ALSO READ: