By Simon Nare
The Democratic Alliance has given President Cyril Ramaphosa 48 hours to fire MPs from his party who are facing serious criminal allegations or have put the Government of National Unity at risk.
The ultimatum follows the firing of DA’s deputy minister of trade, industry and competition Andrew Whitfield.
Following an urgent Federal Council meeting on Thursday, DA leader John Steenhuisen demanded that the president remove members of his party in the executive if his actions were meant to clean the house of ill-discipline.
Steenhuisen did not spell out what the party would do if Ramaphosa ignored its calls, safe to say that he would be putting the country at risk.
There is speculation that Ramaphosa removed Whitfield for going to the United States earlier this year as part of a DA mission to ease tensions between the two countries.
Steenhuisen, who is also the agriculture minister, asked why no action had been taken against ANC members such as Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, who was moved from the justice portfolio due to the VBS scandal.
He also mentioned Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo as other compromised ministers who should be removed.
Steenhuisen said Whitfield was being punished for doing his job and asking tough questions about the National Lottery licence process. It has since emerged that Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s sister-in-law allegedly co-owns a company in the winning consortium.
“There is no other conclusion to be drawn than that this is a calculated political assault on the second-largest party in the governing coalition.
“To make matters even worse, this drastic unilateral action appears to be the product of a flagrant double standard,” said Steenhuisen.
He revealed that Ramaphosa had informed him about the dismissal and he had asked the president to give him 24 hours to talk to Whitfield and his party.
But three hours later, Whitfield received a letter from the president. This was before Steenhuisen had a chance to break the news.
Steenhuisen said Whitfield had gone on the US trip out of frustration because he was not receiving any feedback on a letter he had written to Ramaphosa asking for permission.
Steenhuisen said the DA’s urgent meeting had resolved that Simelane, Nkabane and Mahlobo must be removed in the next 48 hours.
“If they fail to do so, the ANC will inflict grave consequences on South Africa. If the ANC fails to meet our ultimatum, all bets are off and the consequences will be theirs to bear,” he threatened.
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