DA's Steenhuisen says Whitfield's apparent unsanctioned trip pales in comparison to corrupt acts of some Cabinet ministers

CAPE TOWN - Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said that an apparent unsanctioned international trip by former deputy minister Andrew Whitfield paled in comparison to some of the corrupt acts some Cabinet ministers stand accused of. 

Steenhuisen said if President Cyril Ramaphosa did not take action against some of his own party members within the next day, the African National Congress (ANC) could expect to face grave consequences. 

The DA called an urgent federal executive meeting on Thursday to discuss Whitfield's surprise removal, of which Steenhuisen was informed ahead of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

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Whitfield was one of two deputy ministers in the trade, industry and competition ministry, a portfolio the DA had bargained hard for during negotiations to form a Government of National Unity (GNU).

Steenhuisen believes Whitfield’s axing was related to his work in the portfolio rather than illegal travel.

"When compared with the acts of omission and commission of so many other ministers and deputy ministers that are sitting around the Cabinet table, these are people who were implicated in the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, these are people who stand accused of very serious fraud, and benefitting from the looting at the VBS bank, these are people who stand accused of misleading Parliament and manufacturing committees that ostensibly selected politically compromised candidates for the SETA boards. How is it that all of these people retain their jobs, but Andrew Whitfield, loses his?"