POLITICAL NEWS - The Presidency has dismissed reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa is about to announce a wholesale Cabinet reshuffle.
According to The Witness, reports that Ramaphosa was on the verge of announcing a reshuffle were sparked by the removal of DA Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya this afternoon confirmed Whitfield’s removal.
“Indeed, the removal of the deputy minister is true in terms of the applicable constitutional provisions,” he said.
However, Magwenya categorically denied that Whitfield’s removal was part of a wider Cabinet reshuffle.
In terms of the Government of National Unity agreement, the DA is entitled to a particular number of minister and deputy minister posts.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has not indicated any intention to conduct a wholesale Cabinet reshuffle. Therefore, the part about the expected announcement is not true,” Magwenya said.
While Ramaphosa, as president, has the prerogative to replace Whitfield with someone of his choice, it is likely that the outgoing deputy minister will be replaced by a DA member.
Pressed for more details on the reshuffle reports during today’s press briefing, Cabinet spokesperson Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said all she was prepared to confirm was Whitfield’s removal.
“The president has thanked the deputy minister for the time he served in the role. I have no answers to any other question. My role was just to convey the message from the president,” she said.
By late afternoon, the Presidency was yet to provide reasons for Whitfield’s removal.
Meanwhile, DA national spokesperson Wille Aucamp said the party’s Federal Executive would soon meet to discuss Whitfield’s removal.
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