South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Andrew Whitfield, a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), from his role as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. The move, announced Thursday by the president’s office, signals growing tension within South Africa’s fragile coalition government.
Although no official reason was given for Whitfield’s removal, the decision has raised eyebrows, particularly given the DA’s status as a key coalition partner to Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC). The president’s office, however, clarified that the dismissal does not indicate a broader cabinet reshuffle.
“This is a very serious development,” a DA spokesperson said in response, confirming that the party’s Federal Executive would convene later on Thursday to deliberate on the implications of the decision.
The ANC and the DA, South Africa’s two largest political parties, formed a coalition government last year after the ANC failed to secure an outright majority in national elections. Since then, the alliance has been marked by ideological clashes, including sharp disagreements over the national budget and government policies aimed at redressing racial inequality stemming from apartheid-era injustices.
DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp told Reuters that the party would issue a formal response following its internal meeting on the matter.
As the coalition navigates its early stages, Whitfield’s removal could prove to be a significant flashpoint, testing the unity and durability of South Africa’s new power-sharing arrangement.
