President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of national unity (GNU) executive is one deputy minister short, after Democratic Alliance (DA) member Andrew Whitfield was remove from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).
Rumours have been swirling that a Cabinet reshuffle is imminent, and during a Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Minister in Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said a change had been made, but from the executive, not Cabinet.
“The Presidency can confirm that in terms of Section 93(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed the Honourable Andrew Whitfield, MP [member of Parliament], from the position of deputy minister for Trade, Industry and Competition. The president has thanked the former deputy minister for the time he served in the role,” Ntshavheni said.
Ntshavheni added that Ramaphosa would not be making a “wholesale Cabinet reshuffle”, contrary to earlier reports.
Whitfield was one of two DTIC deputy ministers, alongside Zuko Godlimpi, in an executive that numbered 75.
More to follow
