By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen that he 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.
Ramaphosa was defending his decision to axe DA Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield as constitutionally sound and based on a “clear violation” of the rules governing members of the executive.
The DA is “entitled to a deputy minister as agreed, “Ramaphosa said, outlining his decision to remove Whitfield.
The president established a so-called government of national unity a year ago after elections failed to produce an outright winner.
While agreed to focus on growing the economy and safeguarding the constitution, the ANC and DA have clashed over key laws and the budget, straining the administration’s stability.
In his statement, Ramaphosa noted “it is not common practice” for the president to provide reasons either for the appointment or dismissal of members of his executive.
“However, due to several unfortunate statements and outright distortions by a number of people, especially John Steenhuisen and Whitfield himself, it is necessary for me to make a public statement on the circumstances surrounding Whitfield’s removal,” he said.
Ramaphosa slammed Steenhuisen for his ultimatum and threats of consequences.
“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.
“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, “he said.
Ramaphosa revealed that, in conversation with Steenhuisen on Wednesday, in which he alerted him to his intentions to remove Whitfield, he had requested that Steenhuisen provide him with a replacement for Whitfield.
“Prior to the removal of Whitfield, I informed Minister John Steenhuisen as the leader of the Democratic Alliance that I had decided to remove Whitfield from his position as deputy minister, and that I expect him to present to me for approval a replacement for Whitfield from his party as the DA is entitled to a deputy minister, as agreed.
“In that discussion, 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 Whitfield wrote to me following his travel to the US 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,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa claimed that Steenhuisen had asked whether there was any precedent for the action he intended to take against Whitfield.
“I informed him that there was indeed prior precedent.
“I told him that in 1995, (then) president Nelson Mandela dismissed the late deputy minister (Winnie) Madikizela-Mandela, and that in 2007 (then) president Thabo Mbeki dismissed then deputy minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge on the grounds of undertaking international travel without permission,” he said.
“Given all these circumstances there is consequently no reasonable grounds for 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.”
Meanwhile the DA wil host a media briefing brief on the next steps at the expiry of the 48 hour ultimatum given to Ramaphosa to remove compromised Ministers from Cabinet.